In the northeastern region of Alcantara, Maranhao, along the Brazilian coast, numerous traditional villages of Black communities, known as quilombos, exist. These communities, whose families have been living here for generations, engage in farming and fishing. Their villages were established by their ancestors, who were either freed or escaped from the plantations of Brazil.
Across Brazil, there are thousands of such quilombos. However, only a small fraction of them possess the titles to their lands. Many of these communities are under threat from development projects, resource extraction, large-scale agriculture, and real estate. This was the case in Alcantara, where the local communities faced displacement and threats from Brazil’s Alcantara Space Center.
Despite these challenges, these communities have resisted. Episode 59 of Stories of Resistance, a podcast co-produced by The Real News and Global Exchange, highlights these stories of resistance. This podcast series, supported by Global Exchange’s Human Rights in Action program, brings listeners stories of resistance every week.
Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the Stories of Resistance podcast feed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, or any other platform where they listen to podcasts. They can also support the podcast and Michael Fox’s reporting through his Patreon account, where they can access exclusive content, including pictures, videos, and interviews. The podcast is written and produced by Michael Fox.
The transcript of the podcast details the struggles of the quilombo communities in Alcantara, their resistance against the threats of displacement due to the expansion of the Alcantara Space Center, and their eventual victory in securing the titles to their land. The podcast ends with a call to listeners to support the podcast and the reporting of these stories of resistance.