About the book
In this history of the black peasants of Amazonia, Oscar de la Torre focuses on the experience of African-descended people navigating the transition from slavery to freedom. He draws on social and environmental history to connect them intimately to the natural landscape and to Indigenous peoples. Relying on this world as a repository for traditions, discourses, and strategies that they retrieved especially in moments of conflict, Afro-Brazilians fought for autonomous communities and developed a vibrant ethnic identity that supported their struggles over labor, land, and citizenship.
Prior to abolition, enslaved and escaped blacks found in the tropical forest a source for tools, weapons, and trade — but it was also a cultural storehouse within which they shaped their stories and records of confrontations with slaveowners and state authorities. After abolition, the black peasants' knowledge of local environments continued to be key to their aspirations, allowing them to maintain relationships with powerful patrons and to participate in the protest cycle that led Getúlio Vargas to the presidency of Brazil in 1930. In commonly referring to themselves by such names as “sons of the river,” black Amazonians melded their agro-ecological traditions with their emergent identity as political stakeholders.
Editions of The People of the River
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469643236
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469643243
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469643267
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890855640
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469643250
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890855633
Read an Excerpt
In this history of the black peasants of Amazonia, Oscar de la Torre focuses on the experience of African-descended people navigating the transition from slavery to freedom. He draws on social and environmental history to connect them intimately to the natural landscape and to Indigenous peoples. Relying on this world as a repository for traditions, discourses, and strategies that they retrieved especially in moments of conflict, Afro-Brazilians fought for autonomous communities and developed a vibrant ethnic identity that supported their struggles over labor, land, and citizenship.
Prior to abolition, enslaved and escaped blacks found in the tropical forest a source for tools, weapons, and trade — but it was also a cultural storehouse within which they shaped their stories and records of confrontations with slaveowners and state authorities. After abolition, the black peasants' knowledge of local environments continued to be key to their aspirations, allowing them to maintain relationships with powerful patrons and to participate in the protest cycle that led Getúlio Vargas to the presidency of Brazil in 1930. In commonly referring to themselves by such names as “sons of the river,” black Amazonians melded their agro-ecological traditions with their emergent identity as political stakeholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The People of the River about?
In this history of the black peasants of Amazonia, Oscar de la Torre focuses on the experience of African-descended people navigating the transition from slavery to freedom. He draws on social and environmental history to connect them intimately to the natural landscape and to Indigenous peoples. Relying on this world as a repository for traditions, discourses, and strategies that they retrieved especially in moments of conflict, Afro-Brazilians fought for autonomous communities and developed a vibrant ethnic identity that supported their struggles over labor, land, and citizenship.
Prior to abolition, enslaved and escaped blacks found in the tropical forest a source for tools, weapons, and trade — but it was also a cultural storehouse within which they shaped their stories and records of confrontations with slaveowners and state authorities. After abolition, the black peasants' knowledge of local environments continued to be key to their aspirations, allowing them to maintain relationships with powerful patrons and to participate in the protest cycle that led Getúlio Vargas to the presidency of Brazil in 1930. In commonly referring to themselves by such names as “sons of the river,” black Amazonians melded their agro-ecological traditions with their emergent identity as political stakeholders.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The People of the River?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of The People of the River?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469643236
How long is The People of the River and how many pages does it have?
The People of the River has 242 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The People of the River?
Oscar de la Torre
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The People of the River is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469643236) and paperback(ISBN 9781469643243) and ebook(ISBN 9781469643267) and ebook(ISBN 9798890855640) and ebook(ISBN 9781469643250) and pdf(ISBN 9798890855633)
Where can I buy The People of the River online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The People of the River from below
Where can I buy The People of the River?