The Hierarchies of Slavery in Santos, Brazil, 1822-1888

Datos Bibliográficos

ID9307360
AutoresIan Read (autor de correspondencia)
Año2012
Fecha de publicación2012-01-25
Open AccessSí
TipoBOOK
RevistaThe hierarchies of slavery in Santos, Brazil, 1822-1888 (SOURCE_BOOK)
EditorialStanford University Press (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.11126/stanford/9780804774147.001.0001
OpenAlexW4299336664
Open LibraryOL25061207M
ISBN9780804774147
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas8

Despite the inherent brutality of slavery, some slaves could find small but important opportunities to act decisively. This book explores such moments of opportunity and resistance in Santos, a Southeastern township in Imperial Brazil. It argues that slavery in Brazil was hierarchical: slaves' fleeting chances to form families, work jobs that would not kill or maim, avoid debilitating diseases, or find a (legal or illegal) pathway out of slavery were highly influenced by their demographic background and their owners' social position. By tracing the lives of slaves and owners through multiple records, the author is able to show that the cruelties which slaves faced were not equally shared. One important implication is that internal stratification likely helped perpetuate slavery because there was the belief, however illusionary, that escaping captivity was not necessary for social mobility.

Geography · Political science · Colonialism, slavery, and trade · History of Colonial Brazil · 19th century · Brazil · History · Santos (São Paulo, Brazil) · Santos (São Paulo) · Slaveholders · Slavery · Slaves · Social conditions · Social status