Memory in dispute — Maykon Paulo da Silva Guimarães’s (PROHIS/UFS) review of “O Massacre dos Libertos: Sobre raça e república no Brasil (1888–1889)”, by Matheus Gato
Abstract: O Massacre dos Libertos: Sobre raça e república no Brasil (1888–1889) by Matheus Gato examines the impact of the November 17th Massacre on the racialization process in Maranhão post-abolition. The work sheds light on the complexities of racial relations and the manipulation of historical memory, despite some repetitive elements. Utilizing a diverse range of sources, it underscores prevalent racism and oppression, serving as a significant resource for scholars studying racial and historical dynamics in Brazil.
Keywords: Massacre of November 17, Proclamation of the Republic, and Race.
O Massacre dos Libertos: Sobre raça e república no Brasil (1888–1889), published by Perspectiva in 2020 as part of the “Estudos” collection directed by Jacob Guinsburg (in memoriam), is an insightful work by Matheus Gato. This narrative and descriptive book aims to analyze “The November 17th Massacre” and its influence on the social racialization process, emphasizing the interplay between race and the republican transition.
Jacob Guinsburg (1921–2018), who held a doctorate in Performing Arts from the University of São Paulo (USP), was a postgraduate professor, advisor, literary critic, and translator. The book’s foreword is written by Antônio Sergio Alfredo Guimarães, a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences at USP. Spanning four chapters, the book extends over 163 pages, including the introduction and foreword.
The first chapter discusses the initial moments of the Republic’s proclamation in São Luís, Maranhão, highlighting the institutional disarray that set the stage for the November 17th Massacre. The narrative explores the fears among freed individuals concerning the potential restoration of slavery with the republic’s establishment. This fear, rooted in rumors about returning to “captivity,” contributed to the Massacre of November 17th, where a diverse group of “freedmen,” “men of color,” “citizens of May 13th,” and “former slaves” protested against the republic’s proclamation.
The subsequent chapter delves into the concept of race in the post-abolition era, linking the notion of freedom with the racialization process in Maranhão. Gato discusses how the abolition of slavery and the loss of seigneurial power perpetuated racial issues. He examines the fear of re-enslavement as a catalyst for revolts and the imperial emphasis on the citizen-slave dichotomy, which allowed the rise of free people of color and social distinctions among the lower classes. Gato argues for considering regional specificities when interpreting the social construction of race in Brazil.
In the third chapter, Gato explores the local transformations post-abolition, the conflicts over compensation for slave owners, and the resultant racial and political tensions. He suggests that the compensation campaign highlighted the Maranhão aristocracy’s sense of decline and dishonor, intertwining race with politics. This period saw increased hostility and violence, particularly during the November 17 Massacre, as black individuals feared the new regime might reintroduce slavery as a control mechanism.
The final chapter addresses the dual significance of the term “massacre” in Maranhão’s collective memory, emphasizing its symbolic extermination of black individuals. Gato also discusses how “anonymous rumors” fueled tensions, contributing to the event’s enduring impact on memory and cultural representation.
Location in São Luís do Maranhão where the massacre took place, photographed nearly two decades later | Photo: Gaudêncio Cunha/DW
Despite occasional redundancy in terminology, the book’s strength lies in its comprehensive use of sources, including memoirs, literature, biographies, newspaper articles, and letters, to revisit an event long silenced by contemporary symbolism and memory disputes. By highlighting the enduring legacy of racism and oppression under the guise of “racial fraternity,” Gato provides a valuable tool for researchers, students, and educators focused on post-abolition, the early Republic, and racial issues in Brazil.
This work stands as a testament to the author’s engagement with sources to resurrect a historically silenced episode, offering insights into the perpetuation of racism and oppression masked by the narrative of racial harmony, as depicted in the flag of the state of Maranhão. It successfully addresses its central questions, making it an essential study tool for those interested in the intersections of race, history, and republicanism in Brazil.
Summary of O Massacre dos Libertos: Sobre raça e república no Brasil (1888–1889).
GATO, Matheus. O Massacre dos Libertos: Sobre raça e república no Brasil (1888–1889). São Paulo: Perspectiva, 2020. p.163. Review by: GUIMARÃES, Maykon Paulo da Silva. Memory in dispute. Crítica Historiográfica. Natal, v.4, n.15, jan./feb., 2024. Available at <https://www.criticahistoriografica.com.br/en/memory-in-dispute-maykon-paulo-da-silva-guimaraess-prohis-ufs-review-of-o-massacre-dos-libertos-sobre-raca-e-republica-no-brasil-1888-1889-by-matheus-g/>.
Memory in dispute — Maykon Paulo da Silva Guimarães’s (PROHIS/UFS) review of “O Massacre dos Libertos: Sobre raça e república no Brasil (1888–1889)”, by Matheus Gato
Abstract: O Massacre dos Libertos: Sobre raça e república no Brasil (1888–1889) by Matheus Gato examines the impact of the November 17th Massacre on the racialization process in Maranhão post-abolition. The work sheds light on the complexities of racial relations and the manipulation of historical memory, despite some repetitive elements. Utilizing a diverse range of sources, it underscores prevalent racism and oppression, serving as a significant resource for scholars studying racial and historical dynamics in Brazil.
Keywords: Massacre of November 17, Proclamation of the Republic, and Race.
O Massacre dos Libertos: Sobre raça e república no Brasil (1888–1889), published by Perspectiva in 2020 as part of the “Estudos” collection directed by Jacob Guinsburg (in memoriam), is an insightful work by Matheus Gato. This narrative and descriptive book aims to analyze “The November 17th Massacre” and its influence on the social racialization process, emphasizing the interplay between race and the republican transition.
Jacob Guinsburg (1921–2018), who held a doctorate in Performing Arts from the University of São Paulo (USP), was a postgraduate professor, advisor, literary critic, and translator. The book’s foreword is written by Antônio Sergio Alfredo Guimarães, a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences at USP. Spanning four chapters, the book extends over 163 pages, including the introduction and foreword.
The first chapter discusses the initial moments of the Republic’s proclamation in São Luís, Maranhão, highlighting the institutional disarray that set the stage for the November 17th Massacre. The narrative explores the fears among freed individuals concerning the potential restoration of slavery with the republic’s establishment. This fear, rooted in rumors about returning to “captivity,” contributed to the Massacre of November 17th, where a diverse group of “freedmen,” “men of color,” “citizens of May 13th,” and “former slaves” protested against the republic’s proclamation.
The subsequent chapter delves into the concept of race in the post-abolition era, linking the notion of freedom with the racialization process in Maranhão. Gato discusses how the abolition of slavery and the loss of seigneurial power perpetuated racial issues. He examines the fear of re-enslavement as a catalyst for revolts and the imperial emphasis on the citizen-slave dichotomy, which allowed the rise of free people of color and social distinctions among the lower classes. Gato argues for considering regional specificities when interpreting the social construction of race in Brazil.
In the third chapter, Gato explores the local transformations post-abolition, the conflicts over compensation for slave owners, and the resultant racial and political tensions. He suggests that the compensation campaign highlighted the Maranhão aristocracy’s sense of decline and dishonor, intertwining race with politics. This period saw increased hostility and violence, particularly during the November 17 Massacre, as black individuals feared the new regime might reintroduce slavery as a control mechanism.
The final chapter addresses the dual significance of the term “massacre” in Maranhão’s collective memory, emphasizing its symbolic extermination of black individuals. Gato also discusses how “anonymous rumors” fueled tensions, contributing to the event’s enduring impact on memory and cultural representation.
Location in São Luís do Maranhão where the massacre took place, photographed nearly two decades later | Photo: Gaudêncio Cunha/DW
Despite occasional redundancy in terminology, the book’s strength lies in its comprehensive use of sources, including memoirs, literature, biographies, newspaper articles, and letters, to revisit an event long silenced by contemporary symbolism and memory disputes. By highlighting the enduring legacy of racism and oppression under the guise of “racial fraternity,” Gato provides a valuable tool for researchers, students, and educators focused on post-abolition, the early Republic, and racial issues in Brazil.
This work stands as a testament to the author’s engagement with sources to resurrect a historically silenced episode, offering insights into the perpetuation of racism and oppression masked by the narrative of racial harmony, as depicted in the flag of the state of Maranhão. It successfully addresses its central questions, making it an essential study tool for those interested in the intersections of race, history, and republicanism in Brazil.
Summary of O Massacre dos Libertos: Sobre raça e república no Brasil (1888–1889).
GATO, Matheus. O Massacre dos Libertos: Sobre raça e república no Brasil (1888–1889). São Paulo: Perspectiva, 2020. p.163. Review by: GUIMARÃES, Maykon Paulo da Silva. Memory in dispute. Crítica Historiográfica. Natal, v.4, n.15, jan./feb., 2024. Available at <https://www.criticahistoriografica.com.br/en/memory-in-dispute-maykon-paulo-da-silva-guimaraess-prohis-ufs-review-of-o-massacre-dos-libertos-sobre-raca-e-republica-no-brasil-1888-1889-by-matheus-g/>.
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Jacob Guinsburg (1921–2018), who held a doctorate in Performing Arts from the University of São Paulo (USP), was a postgraduate professor, advisor, literary critic, and translator. The book’s foreword is written by Antônio Sergio Alfredo Guimarães, a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences at USP. Spanning four chapters, the book extends over 163 pages, including the introduction and foreword.
Maykon Paulo da Silva Guimarães is a master’s student in História (PROHIS/UFS), specialist in História e Cultura Afro-brasileira (FAVENI) and graduated in História (UFS). Among other works, he published A autodeclaração como forma de identidade – um breve debate sobre a banca de heteroidentificação: os problemas para a identificação do negros nas políticas de ações afirmativas do Brasil. ID LATTES: http://lattes.cnpq.br/2882028940034039. ID ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9050-1388. E-mail: maykouzumak@gmail.com.
