The politics of kinship: Compadrio Among Slaves in Nineteenth-Century Brazil

Abstract

Using parish-level documents, this article analyzes the choices of baptismal godparents made by slaves in the Vila de Cabo Frio during the periods 1795–1810 and 1879–1885. The results are compared with those obtained in another slaveholding area with different characteristics of economic activity (Paraı́ba do Sul, 1870–1888), as well as with the work of other authors concerning the same theme. On small plantations, slaves tended to choose free godparents, whereas on large ones they chose slave godparents. Slave families tried to diversify their choices, uniting within their circle of compadrio, or godparentage, free persons, and slaves. These choices remained unaltered in the two periods studied. However, an important change occurred in the second half of the nineteenth century when a significant portion of slaves chose Catholic saints as godmothers. This pattern may reflect the penetration of this religion and an important indication of the internalization of its values.