"In blood, in race and in color": Quilombola women in the origin, construction and defense of their territories
Quilombos, quilombolas Women, territoriality, colonization
To understand the territorial formation of Brazil, it is necessary to talk about the quilombos and the resistance undertaken since enslavement and colonization. Throughout the colonial period, the struggles of black people for liberation were present from different strategies, and the formation of the quilombos was the one with the greatest historical expression. The quilombos caused cracks in the system not only because they threatened the economic stability, but also because they showed other possibilities of life for the enslaved. Therefore, the history of black people needs to be told not only from the violence of slavery, but also from the resistance built by black people. It is an understanding that subverts the place attributed by racism and patriarchy to black people in the hegemonic narratives about slavery. This story needs to be told through the lens of racial and feminist studies, recognizing not only the place of women, but also how they were decisive for the struggles waged by the quilombos, yesterday and today. In this sense, there is a little explored history in feminist studies and studies on quilombos about the foundation of different territories in Brazil by women. Tens (and perhaps hundreds) of quilombos were founded in struggles carried out by women. Understanding this process is important for retelling and reconstructing, the story. In addition to these founders, however, there is a strong debate being raised by quilombola women about their role in the maintenance of quilombos. Many are political leaders in their territories, and also fundamental pieces for the preservation of culture, identity, memory, education and for the maintenance of quilombola life. To speak of quilombola territoriality is, therefore, also to speak of female protagonism. Taking this debate out of invisibility is essential to break with an epistemic injustice that does not recognize how quilombola women and their struggles are fundamental in the construction and maintenance of quilombos.