Writing from the Margins: Brazilian Slaves and Written Culture

• Published in: Comparative studies in society and history 2007-07, Vol.49 (3), p.611-636
• Main Author: Graham, Sandra Lauderdale
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brazil; Slavery; Writers
• ISSN: 0010-4175
• DOI: 10.1017/S001041757000643

A letter written in 1862 by Florenca da Silva to her slave daughter Balbina in Brazil regarding her plans to gain her daughter's freedom so that they might be together demonstrates how essentially illiterate slaves used writing to make a plea for freedom or other legal matters especially important to them. Not just Brazilian-born (creole) but also African-born slaves understood the importance of the written word & found a way to use it, usually by paying someone to write for them. Where Florenca lived at the time -- in northeastern Minas Gerais -- only 12% of free adults were literate. No slaves were listed in the census as literate. No slaves attended school, but in fact, only 10% of free school-age children were enrolled. Literacy was most common in the "juridical culture," ie, legal professionals, court scribes, lawyers, judges, & notaries, who rendered verbal agreements into binding written contracts & wrote personal letters such as that of Florenca. These "writing intermediaries" played an important role in society & were accorded social status for their skill. A number of accounts are presented, but whether Balbina gained her freedom & joined her mother is not known. J. Stanton