ADVERTISEMENTS

Today many civil society elements will be celebrating November 20th as the National Day of Black Consciousness in Brazil.   I happened to watch the street celebration of the event in Florianopolis, a city in the South of Brazil.  

 Zumbi sculpture.

This celebration, like those in the Caribbean, are built around historical figures that have come to symbolize resistance to subordination.  In the Caribbean, the Taíno Indian Hatuey has become a symbol of both indigenous resistance to European colonization, of resistance to religious chauvinism and of resistance to national subordination.  See, Larry Catá Backer,  From Hatuey to Che: Indigenous Cuba Without Indians and the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (March, 27 2009). American Indian Law Review, Vol. 33, 2009. 

Afro-Brazilians celebrate Zumbi dos Palmares, who died resisting slavery in 1695. Under the banner "Valeu, Zumbi" Afro Brazilians marched in the streets of several cities.  Zumbi, they relate, dedicate dhis life to the fight against slavery, racism and discrimination ("Dedicou sua vida a la luta contra a escravidao, o rascismo, o preconceito e a discriminacao." 20 de novembro, Dia Nacional da Consciencia Negra, leaflet, Nov. 20, 2010).  As in the Caribbean, Zumbi incorporates the symbolic embodiment of difference and resistance in the service of integration within a society that is both singular and differentiated.  The realization of this complex interplay between sameness and difference will to some extent determine the success of Brazil's ability to embrace its economic and social potential.  

Bloggers, promote your law blog by nominating your blog for inclusion in USLaw.com's Law Blog Directory and RSS Reader. Benefits described.