Brazil Many People Today See Brazil\'s Diverse

Brazil

Many people today see Brazil's diverse racial and cultural foreground as one of the nation's strengths. Throughout its development as a nation, the intermixing of several different cultures has given this country it own unique blend. Race and the mixing of race has played a key role in this development. The widely held belief that Brazil was less able to develop due to its mixed races spurred many discussions and debate. The purpose of this essay is to explore the cultural roots of Brazil by examining the streams of intermingling culture and their sometimes violent clashes of customs and laws.

The quick and swift rise of Brazilian national identity followed a familiar form common to many other developmental histories of European colonial territories. During Brazil's colonial period (1500 -- 1822), individuals born in Brazil were subject to rules and taxes that were enforced and created in the homeland of Portugal. Brazil was not yet in charge of its own government as most of the top positions in colonial government were held by those born back in Europe. The relative lack of influence over their own sovereignty gave energy to the creation of a distinct distinctiveness among native-born Brazilians, even though it consisted of many differing elements.

During this time, slavery was very popular amongst the colonial powers in Europe and Brazil was not exempt from this system. Nearly all, but certainly most of the wealth and power, colonial Brazil had was ruled over by a small white elite of Portuguese natives who owned farming plantations worked by Indian and African slaves. Some Portuguese were more tolerant and humane. These people along with free people of color held the middle slots in colonial society; they were worker foremen, artisans, shopkeepers, low-level government bureaucrats, and members of militias.

Slave rebellion in Brazil.

The Male Revolt also known as the Great Revolt is the most important of all the slave rebellions that Brazil experienced. The revolt occurred in January 1835 in the city of Salvador de Bahia. The revolt was inspired by Muslim influences who were called Male in Bahia. The revolt was inspired by incidents in Haiti where a similar revolt took place.

During this uprising, slaves attacked the city jail looking to free captive Muslim leaders. This maneuver did not work and the jailers put the slaves down. As the rebellion continued throughout the next few days, the slaves became overmatched. As a result of this rebellion, the organizers were either put to death, put in jail or sent back to Africa. The slave trade did increase however after this rebellion.

The Yoruba Diaspora in Brazil.

The Yoruba is an ethnicity from Nigeria in Africa. The Yoruba Diaspora, or movement began. Brazil has the largest segment of Yoruba people in the diaspora. It is suggested that 20 million descendents are currently living in Brazil. Many of the customs an religious ceremonies are still celebrated today marking the huge influence of these peoples to the customs and society of Brazil today.

Setting of the Cemiterada.

The Cemitrada took place in Bahia on 25 October 1836 which was essentially a rebellion against a cemetery. The revolt or protest took place due to a newly established law that restricted certain burial rights. A violent protest grew and traveled throughout different parts of the city of Salvador. The protests were aimed against a private company that negotiated a monopoly on internment rights. The protests became more violent as the day grew on. Eventually Campo Santo was demolished and much destruction and waste was created due to the perceived violations of people's rights to be buried in their chosen manner.

Gilberto Freye

Gilberto Freye was a 20th century Brazilian intellectual who made many contributions to its society. As a sociologist he wrote many important books and articles focusing on the development of the culture within Brazil. His paper Casa-Grande and Senzala, was a deep and riveting look at how slavery shaped the Brazilian culture. Besides science, Freye also wrote literature and poetry demonstrating his wide reach of intellectual capabilities and range and grasp of the many different ideas and subjects that have formed the Brazilian traditions.

In the early 20th century,, Gilberto Freyre, argued that the rich traditions of Brazilian society are set exactly in its mixed racial history. The Portuguese, he argued, had laid the idea and eventually the mechanical ability for a "new world in the tropics," which was essentially a blending of African, Indian, and European elements that made Brazilian culture unique. This view is often criticized as romantic and non-realistic. What was downplayed was the harsh realities of life for people of all color in Brazil, Freyre was influential in shaping this nation's discussions of its multiracial heritage, making it a source of intellectual inquiry and nationalistic pride, rather than embarrassing savagery.

Revolutions

Revolution caught hold in the early 19th century. Brazil's proclaimed independence from Portugal in 1822, and as a result Brazil's national identity was further refined but its mixed populations remained largely unchanged. As in most post colonial situations, the Portuguese upper echelons of socicty still dominated Brazil's political and economic exchanges. However, the majority of the Brazilian population mostly still consisted of black slaves and free people of color who labored in mines, on coffee plantations, and as sharecroppers or farmers.

During the American Civil War, Brazil was the location of an important naval battle. This Battle at Bahia between the north and south forces of America caused some tension between the U.S. And Brazil. Brazil did not want the American Civil War taking place in its harbors and restricted these two forces, prohibiting them from fighting or they would take action themselves. The two sides eventually fought and the Union side won but Brazil was not held in high esteem for their prohibitive actions.

Brazilian Cultural Influences

Until the 1870s, Brazil was mostly a nation of people of color. In the first national census in 1872, 63% of the country's population was defined as black or of a mixed descent. A massive wave of immigration from Europe began to happen. An estimated 2.5 million European refugees began to shift the racial balance. In 1888 slavery was abolished in Brazil and immigration began to explode and reached a peak in the 1890s with over one million Italians settling in the South and Southeast of the country with thousands more emigrating from Portugal. Many Jews from Eastern Europe, began to flock to Brazil in the beginning of the 20th century also contributing to its eclectic culture.

Brazil's streams of culture are very wide-reaching. Throughout the constant change and influx of differing races of people, many violent episodes also contribute to the cultural landscape. Brazil had declared their independence in 1822 and during that time war and violence was very common as political enemies were vying for power. A Brazilian monarchy ruled until it was overthrown in 1889 and republic was established. These victories for independence were hard fought and forced many of the cultures to blend together in order to defeat the oppressive regimes.