Lideranças quilombolas no Amazonas: “A gente só era gente, mas hoje a gente sabe que faz parte de um grupo, um grupo que faz parte da História do Brasil”.

Abstract

The research analyzes the process of formation and performance of leaderships in the residents' associations of the remaining quilombo communities of Tambor and Novo Airão. The general objective was to analyze the formative trajectory of quilombola leaderships in Amazonas. The specific objectives are presented through three developments: 1. Identify the processes and factors that influence the formative process of quilombola leaderships; 2. Examine the panorama of social rights, democracy, achievements, and challenges in the implementation of quilombola rights; 3. Map the role of education in the formation of quilombola leaderships within the residents' associations, considering both school and nonschool contexts. We approach the formation of quilombola leaderships in light of a theoretical, documental, and empirical framework with three axes, namely: Formative process; Rights; and Education. In this context, we align with the approaches of Abdias Nascimento (2016), Clóvis Moura (2022), Nilma Lino Gomes (2022), Givânia Silva (2022); Cida Bento (2022), Kabenguele Munanga (2022), Neusa Souza (2021), Molefi Asante (2016). Methodologically, the research adopts the oral history of life (Anabel Moliña) based on the work "Investigar con Historias de Vida" (2016). For the general analysis of the evidence, we are using content analysis resources, such as the context unit and thematic analysis unit in light of Bardin (2020) with the aid of the analytical tool Atlas ti. The selection, collection, and processing of secondary information was carried out through bibliographic and documental surveys, and primary information through field research, observations, and interaction records. The organization of the thesis follows the following structure: an introduction and 4 more chapters, where theoretical, documental, and empirical elements intertwine and weave the network that constitutes the investigation of quilombola leadership formation in the context of the State of Amazonas. This is research produced in partnership between researchers and socio-political agents, the subjects of the research. In the integrative review, the 2nd chapter identifies concepts of formal, political, informal, religious, cultural/traditional leadership, from the perspective of the leaderships themselves, which were adopted in this thesis. Our thesis is that the three types of leadership are fundamental to the constitution of politics, even though only formal political leadership may appear. These struggles are also composed of informal, religious, and traditional or cultural leaderships. In the realm of the struggle for public policy, there is an erasure of black leaderships, when they appear, they are limited to formal political leadership, despite also being composed of informal leaderships. The results indicate that the struggle for self-identification and territory occupies a central place for leaderships, that the political formation of current leaderships was fostered by the black and quilombola movements, as they organize and appropriate their rights, and that school education, for various reasons, occupied a secondary space in this process. They also indicate that although there are victories in the political field with the titling of the territory, there is a fragility in relation to the formation of new formal and informal leaderships, the latter being fundamental for the cohesion and maintenance of traditional culture and knowledge. Finally, the 21st century may demand from political leaderships not only an understanding of local and cultural issues but also the ability to act in a glocal context. From this perspective, we consider that the formation of young political leaders requires involvement in the movement and schooling.