Ser (tão) negro! Reconversão cultural e desenvolvimento local na Comunidade Negra Rural Quilombola de Leitão/Umbuzeiro, Afogados da Ingazeira – PE

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the process of cultural reconversion experienced by the Negro Rural Quilombola Community of Leitão/Umbuzeiro, in the backlands of Pernambuco, during their hybridous history in a massive and hegemonic culture. Our research seeks to understand the cultural reconversions as the quilombola population proceeds in their endeavors and life, confronting the proposals of public policies for the construction of local development in the community. With our research we want to reflect on the trajectory of a popular culture, historically radicalized, in the sense of seeking and developing strategies to adapt without forgetting their ethnic essence and integrating and remaining in the environment of temporal globalization markets the homologization of cultures. The contextualizations of cultural reconversions and their recomposition of cultural identity in contempory life were compiled in the reflexions of Canclini (1996, 2000a, 2000b, 2001, 2006), Bhabha (2007), Burke (2003, 2006), Hall (2004, 2007), Hannerz (1997), Silva (2007), Tauk Santos (2000, 2001, 2008), Vargas (2007), while the parameter of analysis with suppositions of political policies be they from politics of Rural Extension for local development or other programs of the Federal Government, found in Callou (2006), Campanhola; Graziano da Silva (2004), Caporal (2006), Jara (2000; 2001), Milanez (2003), Pires, A, (2004), Pires, M. (2005). In this way we want to recapture the formation of the quilombos and historical quilombolas, traditional communities; the resignification to be quilombola and rural negro communities; social movements in Dias, (2003), Freitas, D. (19997; 1980); 1982), Gohn, (2003), Gomes (1996), Leite (2000), Moura (1972; 1981; 1987;), Ratts (2001), Silva. V., (2000). For the study of territories of the city of Afogados da Ingazeira we used, among others, the research of Cerquinha (2003) e Pires, F. (2004). This is a case study where we used techniques combining the collection of data with documental analyses,ethnographical research and a program of semi-structed interviews with memories of the quilombo community. From this analysis, we can confirm the cultural reconversions in the Negro Rural Quilomobola Community of Leitão/Umbuzeiro, concerning the work and economical activities in daily living. The most expressive of the cultural reconversions occurred due to the benefits from the cashew nuts which being part of the global market as well as the globalization of cultures, the quilomboas took advantage of the massive cultural hegemony joined to the strategies of communication and commercialization.