Slave Rebellion In Brazil Chapter Summary
One of the most important resources used in understanding slavery in the Americas is reviewing the first-hand accounts of those who had been subject to its discriminatory and racist society. Additionally, it contributes towards empathizing with those who had been subordinate to the institution of slavery and racism and their response to it. This pertains most specifically to Brazil, where the slave society was extremely complex and not very similar to most of the countries around it. In those societies it was quite literally black and white in terms of the hierarchal ladder. Brazilian slavery was not only about race; rather it dealt with class, ethnicity, place of birth, religion, and a multitude of other societal aspects. As explained by Joao Reis in his book, Slave Rebellion in Brazil, African’s were extremely important in the creation of Brazilian society.
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In his book, Reis states, “Bahian society breathed politics, shook in unrest, and the black community was not outside this process.” Although there were cases where there were more successful African freemen above those people considered to be poor white people.
In Reis’ opinion, the ethnic identity of the Africans “constituted the focal point for their break with the white man’s world.” He analyzed the role the Islam played in the uprising, as well as the events themselves and the goals of the revolt. A group of free and slave Africans set out to teach and spread Islamic ideas among the African population of Salvador in Bahia. The most interesting part is when Reis analyzes how the ideas contained in the Koran were well suited for slaves. Islam had to be appealing as an alternative worldview because of its sympathy for the exploited, as it had proved to be in
In his book, Reis states, “Bahian society breathed politics, shook in unrest, and the black community was not outside this process.” Although there were cases where there were more successful African freemen above those people considered to be poor white people.
In Reis’ opinion, the ethnic identity of the Africans “constituted the focal point for their break with the white man’s world.” He analyzed the role the Islam played in the uprising, as well as the events themselves and the goals of the revolt. A group of free and slave Africans set out to teach and spread Islamic ideas among the African population of Salvador in Bahia. The most interesting part is when Reis analyzes how the ideas contained in the Koran were well suited for slaves. Islam had to be appealing as an alternative worldview because of its sympathy for the exploited, as it had proved to be in