A infância negada: racismo, pobreza e trabalho infantil na Bahia (1871-1917)

Abstract

This thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of poor and destitute childhood in Bahia, situating itself within the broad historiographical field of studies on this subject. The central focus is the analysis of the use of child labor, especially through the examination of guardianship records and indenture contracts, during the period between 1871 and 1917—a timeframe that spans from the attempt to eradicate the endogenous reproduction of slavery to the enactment of Brazil’s first Civil Code. The research reveals that the ideal of childhood formulated by nineteenth-century doctors and jurists—which advocated for formal education, cultural activities, leisure, health, and nutrition—did not apply to poor and formerly enslaved children, who were often excluded from these conditions and subjected to forced labor. The investigation seeks to understand the meanings attributed to childhood by Black and poor children and their families, based on the actions of the orphans’ court, highlighting the strategies for the insertion and reinsertion of these children into the workforce, especially in domestic and agricultural activities. Furthermore, the study problematizes the process of social control and repression, justified by discourses that labeled these children as idle and dangerous, and analyzes the racial, age, and gender profiles of those under guardianship and indenture, as well as their forms of survival, social organization, and the value of their labor. The methodology combines quantitative analysis, through the cross-referencing of data found in the records, with a qualitative approach that values life narratives and the social relationships documented in the proceedings. The integration of various documentary sources—including guardianship requests, certificates, warrants, correspondence, inventories, periodicals, photographs, and legislation—enables a relevant analysis of the social, legal, and cultural context of the period.