One Hundred Years of Freedom - reality or illusion. Performed by: Jamelão, 1988.
“Has freedom truly dawned, or was it all illusion? Could the long-dreamed, long-since-signed Golden Law have failed to end slavery?” At the 1988 carnival, the question posed by Mangueira's samba-enredo echoed throughout Rio de Janeiro. On May 11 of that year, two days before the date marking the centenary of the abolition of slavery in Brazil, a march organized by the Institute for Research on Black Cultures (IPCN) brought together thousands of people downtown.
Demonstration poster. Author: Luiz Carlos Gá. 1988. Collection: PACC/UFRJ. Racial Relations Folder, Abolition Centennial collection.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white poster. At the top, there is a date "1888 GOLDEN LAW 1988". Below, it reads "NOTHING HAS CHANGED" in large letters. Next is "LET'S CHANGE" with emphasis on "CHANGE". The phrase "MARCH AGAINST THE FARCE OF ABOLITION" appears below, highlighting participation. In the background, there are images of people in different situations, possibly related to the history of the abolition of slavery. At the bottom, it reads "TAKE PART MAY 11 - 4 PM - CANDELÁRIA BLACK MOVEMENT - RJ".The March Against the Farce of Abolition was a cry against racism, a defense of Afro-Brazilian traditions and cultures, and a fight for Black people's right to memory. The movement chose Zumbi dos Palmares and the date of his death, November 20, as historical symbols of the struggle of Black people in Brazil.
Black Movement March – 1988 – Excerpt from the video produced by Enugbarijô Comunicações. Cultne Collection – Youtube
The plan was to go straight along Presidente Vargas avenue, from the Igreja da Candelária to the monument honoring Zumbi, in Praça Onze. However, the Eastern Military Command ordered the route to be changed. The military claimed that, during the protest, there would be demonstrations against the Army's patron, Duque de Caxias, when the protesters passed in front of the pantheon where his remains lie, near Central do Brasil.
True or not, it was a fact that, for the Black movement, Caxias represented just one more farce among the icons erected by the State's official memory – like Princess Isabel and May 13th itself. Around 750 soldiers kept the demonstration under watch, with widespread searches, confiscated banners, and arrests for contempt. In unison, the protesters chanted: “we will walk as far as racism lets us”.
Protesters are prevented from marching to the Caxias pantheon. Black Movement March – 1988 – Excerpt from the video produced by Enugbarijô Comunicações. Cultne Collection – Youtube
