Ser quilombola é bom? Invisibilização, memória e resistência das comunidades São Miguel e família Cardoso em Mato Grosso do Sul

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the processes of invisibility that mark quilombola communities in Mato Grosso do Sul, starting from the problematization of the question "Is being quilombola good?". The objective is to examine the construction and recognition of identity formation in two communities located in distinct contexts: São Miguel, a rural community located in Maracaju-MS, and Família Cardoso, a community in an urban context in Nioaque-MS. A comparative analysis is adopted to understand how different territorial and social conditions influence identity formation. The methodology is based on oral history and field research, valuing the narratives and memories of the residents as central sources. The theoretical framework addresses structural racism and the pact of whiteness, the racialization of territory, and identity as a political positioning. The results indicate that brazilian land policies have historically maintained exclusionary structures. It is concluded that quilombola identity is constituted by collective freedom, memory, female leadership, and ancestral entail as elements of resistance and territorial self-affirmation.