"Maria Timbu", "Xangozeira", "Bruxa da Cachoeira": Das páginas dos jornais ao inquérito policial - representações marginais de uma praticante de cultos afro-brasileiros em Campina Grande - PB (1967-1972).

Abstract

When investigating the period between 1967 and 1972 in Campina Grande, Brazil, we focused on the historical figure of "Maria Timbu," a resident of the Cachoeira slum and practitioner of Afro-Brazilian cults. Our analytical approach embraced micro-history, inspired by Ginzburg, allowing for a thorough investigation through diverse sources such as newspapers, police inquiries, and legal proceedings. The core of the research lies in understanding how the media of that time shaped and reinforced marginal representations, such as "xangozeira," "macumbeira," "catimbozeira," and "bruxa" (witch), in relation to this woman. In light of Roger Chartier's theory of collective representations (1990), we aimed to decode the impact of these representations on popular imagination and the persistence of religious prejudice. Moreover, we adopted Michel de Certeau's concepts of tactics and strategy to comprehend the dynamics of negotiation and subversion employed by subaltern classes in the face of these stigmatizing representations. The research revealed not only the media manipulation of "Maria Timbu's" image during the specified period but also provided valuable insights into underlying social structures and human behaviors. This detailed historical approach allowed us to uncover nuances often overlooked by conventional historical narratives, contributing to an understanding of the society in Campina Grande during that temporal context.