Research Paper Example about Slavery in Brazil

Microaggressions, injustice, racism. Something that all foreigners in Brazil have had to cope with since the moment they arrived in a land that was alien to them. The labor work of foreigners was always exploited. No matter if they were freed slaves, immigrants that came by choice, or people that were unknowingly brought to Brazil from Africa to become slaves; they were overworked and exploited. The abolition of slavery in Brazil in 1888 was not successful for Africans and immigrants due to racism influencing injustices and unfair working conditions. 

The abolition of slavery in Brazil began with slaves working on plantations, ending in the 1800s. As abolition in Haiti brought down a collapse in sugar production, demand for Brazilian sugar increased (Rankin). This was very important because “Brazil's [...] economy had become reliant on large numbers of slaves to work primarily on sugar plantations” (Rankin). Slaves were carrying Brazil's economy. Slaves were the only people working on plantations with little to no pay. Planters relied on slaves for harvesting sugar. The abolition of slavery was never constant. People pushed back against abolition to keep slavery for their benefit. Due to recent history in Haiti, which had caused a slave insurrection, Brazil’s planter class feared the same would happen in Brazil (Rankin). The Brazilian government did not want their slaves to be inspired by Haiti. Brazil had been trying to shelter its people from the Haitian revolution. The government wanted to keep unfair working conditions for as long as possible because without slaves working on plantations, the economy would struggle. Agricultural production shifted away from sugar in the southeast to coffee in the south in the last half of the 19th century (Rankin). Coffee is less labor-intensive compared to sugar. During this time, people were more open to inventing technology to help reduce the urgency of manual labor. Fewer slaves were needed on plantations, but who would be working on them after the inevitable abolition of slavery? Brazil needed immigrants as it was obvious that slavery would not exist for long (Meade). Brazil was self-aware that it had to get with the rest of the world and not be the only country still legalizing slavery. Immigrants and Africans were needed to work on plantations because planters could pay them extraordinarily little. Furthermore, racism and unfair working conditions to Africans and foreigners ultimately lead to racism, injustice, and unfair working conditions to minorities. 

Emotion appeals to readers as they read Joaquim Nabucos’ analysis on Brazil's determination to make sure that its slaves do not revolt emphasizing the struggle slaves and people of color felt establishing human rights and respect from Brazilians (Nabuco). Ever since the law that abolishes slavery on September 28, 1871, was passed, the “Brazilian government has been trying to make the world believe that slavery has ended in Brazil” (Nabuco). Brazil understands that the world does not support slavery. Brazilian government trying to make the world believe that their legalization of slavery was over. They understand that slavery is immoral but still have no intention of repealing it. Brazilian slavery was not abolished because it is immoral. But for the fact that the rest of the world does not associate or denote slavery. Brazilian “Propaganda has tried to spread to other countries the belief that the slaves were being freed in considerable numbers, and that [...] slaves were being born entirely free” (Nabuco). The rest of the world had been believing Brazilian propaganda. Slaves were not being freed in considerable numbers or being born entirely free. Brazil understands that it is unethical to still have slaves but they did not care because slavery had benefited their economy. Slavery is dehumanizing and immoral and coincides with racism. The manipulation and propaganda Brazil enforced on minorities and the world proves the control Brazil implemented on minorities.  

Upon realizing that slavery would not exist for long, Brazil required immigrants; emphasizing how much power slaves hold to Brazil's economy (Meade). Immigrants were a ready source of cheap labor, while good soil and plentiful land allowed coffee fields to expand westward (Meade). Immigrants were Brazil's next best thing for cheap labor workers. Most immigrants were Italians, Spaniards, Portuguese, Germans, Russians, Polish Jews, Syrians, and Middle Eastern Arabs. Immigrants were treated as slaves and worked on plantations. Africans and immigrants were both discriminated against and faced injustices. The Brazilian government “Did little to provide basic health and education services that would have benefited the mass of recently emancipated slaves” (Meade). There are opportunities for the Brazilian government to have equity for everyone but they do not take them. Even with the opportunity and resources to make fair opportunities for people of color in Brazil, Brazil dismissed it. Africans and immigrants in Brazil were not given the same opportunities as their white counterparts. Brazil does not care if people of color or anyone who is not Brazilian have an unfair fortuity or opportunities. Further, Brazil's carelessness demonstrates the negligence and lack of consequences of their actions affecting generations. 

Considering all the facts, when one considers the abolition of slavery in Brazil beginning with slaves working on plantations and the emotional appeal of Brazil's determination to make sure that its slaves do not revolt these huge injustices will not magically disappear. Upon realizing that slavery would not exist for long, Brazil needed immigrants; emphasizing how much power slaves and foreigners hold to Brazil's economy. Is important because it displayed how much Brazil wanted foreigners to tyrannize. Knowing more about the results of Brazil's abolition of slavery allows for people to realize that even though someone may have “freedom” or be “free” they are still systemically at a disadvantage socially, economically, and politically. 

Works Cited 

"Coffee Plantation in Brazil." Daily Life through History, ABC-CLIO, 2021, dailylife-abc-clio-com.ezproxy.kcls.org/Search/Display/1657471. Accessed 9 Nov. 2021. 

Ewbank Thomas, Life in Brazil; or, A journal of a visit to the land of the cocoa and the palm. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1856. Pgs. 436-441. library.brown.edu/. Access 15 Nov. 2021.

Meade, Teresa A. “Constructing a Nation of Free Laborers in Brazil (1890–1930).” A Brief History of Brazil, Third Edition, Facts On File, 2021. History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId=271633. Accessed 9 Nov. 2021. 

Nabuco Joaquim, "We Are Seeking Our Country's Highest Interests": An Abolitionist Analyzes Slavery and Calls for a Break with the Past, College.cengage.com. Accessed 18 Nov. 2021 . 

Rankin, Monica A. “Abolition of Slavery in Brazil.” Encyclopedia of Early Modern Latin America (1820s to 1900), Facts On File, 2017. History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId=244846. Accessed 9 Nov. 2021.