5 black women who resisted slavery

O slavery period, a milestone of tragedies and suffering for the black population, was not a time of omission on the part of blacks. Resistance and persistence in pursuit of freedom were constant, and black women were also present within these manifestations.

we brought five examples of black women who clenched their fists, and resisted to the last second the oppression of slavery.

Teresa of Benguela

Teresa was a leader quilombola who lived in the century. XVIII in what is now known as the state of Mato Grosso. She was married to José Piolho, who headed the Quilombo do Piolho. With his death, Tereza took over the quilombo and through her leadership the indigenous and black community opposed the regime for two decades. In 1770, the quilombo was destroyed by the forces of Luís Pinto de Sousa Coutinho and the population (79 blacks and 30 Indians) were killed or imprisoned.

aqualtune

According to the story, Aqualtune is the mother of Ganga Zumba and maternal grandmother of Zumbi dos Palmares. Before being captured, Aqualtune was considered a princess and the daughter of the king of Congo. In 1655 she led ten thousand men during an invasion of her kingdom. Defeated, she was taken as a slave to a slave ship and sold to Brazil, arriving at the Port of Recife.

Aqualtune was forced to have sex with another enslaved person in order to reproduce more children who would later be enslaved as well. At the end of her pregnancy, she organized an escape to the quilombo in Serra da Barriga. Gamba Zumba was born and alongside him began the organization of the Black State of Palmares. The princess was instrumental in consolidating the republic, as she knew politics and was a great combat strategist.

Dandara dos Palmares

One of the greatest icons of the black woman’s struggle. Alongside Zumbi as her companion, she fought against slavery in Palmares. He opposed the Portuguese Crown’s agreement to condition the quilombola claims. In addition to domestic services, she planted crops, worked in the production of cassava flour, in addition to lifting weapons and leading women’s groups in the Palmarino black army. She committed suicide after being arrested, on February 6, 1694, so as not to return as a slave.

Maria Felipe de Oliveira

“Black Heroine of Independence”, as she is known, used capoeira to defend herself, and her mission was to free her descendants and grandparents, being a leader on the Island of Itaparica, Bahia. Leading a group of women and men of different classes and ethnicities, she fortified the coast by building trenches, coordinated the distribution of supplies to the Recôncavo, in addition to actively participating in several conflicts.

Zeferina

With Angolan origin, Zeferina led the Quilombo do Urubu in 1826, located in Bahia. she led Indians and escaped slaves. After several clashes with government forces, Zeferina was arrested and chained and her remains were buried in an unknown location.

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