On the Northeastern Brazilian coast, in the region of Alcântara, Maranhão, there are dozens of traditional villages of Black communities. Their families have lived here for generations — farming and fishing. They are known as quilombos. These villages were founded by their ancestors, who were either freed or who escaped enslavement on the plantations of Brazil.
There are thousands of quilombos across Brazil. But only a small number have the titles to their lands. And many are under threat from development projects, resource extraction, Big Ag, and real estate. This was the story in Alcântara, where these communities have faced removal and threats from Brazil’s Alcântara Space Center.
But they have fought back.
This is episode 59 of Stories of Resistance—a podcast co-produced by The Real News and Global Exchange. Independent investigative journalism, supported by Global Exchange’s Human Rights in Action program. Each week, we’ll bring you stories of resistance like this. Inspiration for dark times.
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Transcript
On the Northeastern Brazilian coast,
In the region of Alcântara, Maranhao…
there are dozens of traditional villages of Black communities.
Their families have lived here for generations.
Farming and fishing. The ocean… the main source of sustenance.
They are known as quilombos.
These villages were founded by their ancestors
who were either freed or who escaped enslavement on the plantations of Brazil
Today, more than a million people around the country self-identify as quilombolas or quilombo residents.
There are thousands of quilombos across Brazil.
But only a small number have the titles to their lands.
And many are under threat from development projects, resource extraction, Big Ag, and real estate.
This was the story in Alcântara.
See…. Here, in the early 1980s, Brazil’s military dictatorship built the Alcântara Space Center.
Near the equator, this was a prime site for launching rockets into space.
But in order to do it, they had to remove the quilombo communities that lived on the land.
300 families were taken from their ancestral homes
And moved to new inland villages far from the coast…
Far from their means of survival.
Far from the ocean…
Community residents still remember how hard it was….
Many quilombos were left outside the boundaries of the new launch site.
And they were allowed to stay…. For the time being.
But they remained under constant threat.
Years. Decades under the threat of removal
When the Alcântara Space Center would eventually expand…
The community of Mamuna would be the first to go.
But they and their neighbors would not go quietly.
They began to organize.
They joined with the other quilombos in the region.
[MUSIC]
In 2019, however, the United States and Brazil signed an agreement over the launch site
They promised expansion, igniting old concerns.
But the residents would not go quietly.
They spoke out. They lobbied in Brasilia.
They brought their case in defense of their territory before the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights. And the court ruled in their favor.
Finally…
In 2024, the government of president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
Officially recognized the nearly 800 square kilometers of Alcantara Quilombo Territory
And committed to giving the quilombo communities the titles to their land.
Community residents say their struggle is not over yet.
But they are hopeful.
Resistance over decades in defense of their ancestral homes and communities.
Resistance. Unity. Hope and success…
Hi folks, thanks for listening. I’m your host Michael Fox.
I visited quilombo communities in Alcantara back in 2019 and did some reporting for The Real News and other outlets. I’ll add a link in the show notes.
As always, if you like what you hear and enjoy this podcast, please consider becoming a subscriber on my Patreon. It’s only a few dollars a month. I have a ton of exclusive content there, only available to my supporters. And every supporter really makes a difference.
This is episode 59 of Stories of Resistance, a podcast series co-produced by The Real News and Global Exchange. Independent investigative journalism, supported by Global Exchange’s Human Rights in Action program. Each week, I bring you stories of resistance and hope like this. Inspiration for dark times. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, like, share, comment, or leave a review.
Thanks for listening. See you next time.