Os processos identitários do quilombo Sagrado Coração de Jesus do lago de Serpa no município de Itacoatiara no Amazonas: As trajetórias das famílias

Abstract

This research focuses on the identity-forming processes of the Sagrado Coração de Jesus (SCJ) quilombo at Lake Serpa, in the municipality of Itacoatiara, Amazonas, specifically examining family trajectories. It addresses the presence of Black people in Amazonas—and the silence surrounding it—by presenting historical backgrounds that help elucidate this presence within the state. The study outlines the aftereffects of slavery, the transition from enslaved status to that of "free Africans," the context of the Vila de Serpa Agro-industrial Colony and the free Africans integrated into it, as well as the subsequent quest for refuge and survival along the shores and lands of Lake Serpa. It is important to note that the SCJ community comprises 145 families registered and recognized by INCRA who self-identify as quilombo descendants; notably, this *quilombo* is also known as the "Quilombo dos Carvoeiros" (Charcoal Burners' *Quilombo*). Furthermore, the research highlights the challenges the community faces, specifically a series of land conflicts driven by real estate, political, and tourism speculation. In this context, the study explores the concept of the *quilombo* and its re-signification, as well as the community's significance to these families. It discusses the need for collective organization (ACQ-Serpa) and the Black Consciousness Festival as a means of honoring Black memory and struggle. It also raises issues and observations regarding formal education within the Lake Serpa *quilombo*. Subsequently, the study details the trajectories of the SCJ *quilombo* families, providing data that clarify the dynamics of this social group. It analyzes family interactions resulting from the coexistence of individuals who found refuge in this territory from the second half of the 19th century onwards. This approach makes it possible to understand the current family kinship structure and the social and kinship connections that played a fundamental role in shaping the identity of this "Afro-Amazonian" quilombo. Therefore, it analyzes the structures and interactions within this social body, contributing scientifically to the construction of sociocultural knowledge regarding traditional quilombola communities in the Amazon region.