Ecossistemas da Escravidão: histórias de trabalhadores potiguares (São José de Mipibu, década de 1970)

Abstract

This dissertation discusses the formation of the peasantry in the Zona da Mata region of Rio Grande do Norte in the second half of the 19th century, based on notary and parish sources. In the first part, the daily lives of enslaved workers are examined, seeking their strategies for survival, autonomy and dignity within slavery. Furthermore, the history of sugar production in the region and its relations with slavery are discussed. In the second part, we examine a criminal case relating to a revolt against the 1874 conscription law, observing how these rural workers organized themselves around common elements and what experiences united them. The research sheds light on the formation of a black peasant class in the province's sugar region and provides elements to think about a social history of Rio Grande do Norte in terms of race and class