About this book:

*Afro-South America: Culture, Resistance, and Identity* provides a comprehensive social and cultural history of Afro-descendant communities in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. The book traces the trajectory of these populations from the foundations of enslavement and the formation of autonomous maroon geographies—such as *quilombos* and *palenques*—to the contemporary struggles for land, citizenship, and environmental justice. By weaving together archival records, oral histories, and ethnography, the text centers the lived experiences of Black South Americans, illustrating how they have navigated national ideologies of *mestizaje* and "racial democracy" while simultaneously building robust social movements to contest structural exclusion.

A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the "spiritual worlds" and aesthetic innovations that define Afro-descendant life. It explores the philosophies and practices of Afro-Brazilian religions like Candomblé and Umbanda, the funerary traditions of the Colombian Pacific, and the syncretic rituals of coastal Peru. The narrative emphasizes that culture is not a passive reflection of history but an active field of struggle; music and dance forms—including samba, *maracatu*, *currulao*, *festejo*, and the martial art of capoeira—are analyzed as instruments of survival and memory that encode histories of labor, oceanic travel, and community sovereignty.

The volume also addresses the political economy of race, examining the impacts of urban migration, labor market segmentation, and the ongoing fight for collective territorial rights on the Amazon and Pacific frontiers. It highlights the vital roles of family networks, women's leadership, and intersectional activism in fostering community resilience. Modern chapters focus on the role of digital media and technology in creating a new public sphere, allowing Afro-descendant voices to bypass traditional gatekeepers and mobilize for "epistemic justice" and legal recognition.

In its conclusion, the book situates Afro-South America within a broader transnational context, exploring the diasporic networks that link South American communities to Africa, the Caribbean, and North America. It argues that the future of these communities is shaped by a persistent "Black imagination" that continues to innovate across literature, visual arts, and politics. Ultimately, the book presents a blueprint for more just worlds, grounded in the ancestral knowledge and the unwavering resistance of Afro-descendant peoples across the continent.

What You'll Find Inside:

• A comprehensive examination of Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Colombian, and Afro-Peruvian social and cultural histories from enslavement to the 21st century.
• Analysis of maroon geographies, such as quilombos and palenques, as foundational experiments in community autonomy and sovereignty.
• Exploration of spiritual worlds and artistic lineages, including Candomblé, San Basilio de Palenque traditions, and musical forms like Samba, Currulao, and Landó.
• Discussion of the political economy of race, urban migrations, and the ongoing struggle for land rights and environmental justice in the Pacific and Amazon frontiers.
• Insight into modern social movements, the impact of digital technology on the Black public sphere, and the intersectional struggles involving gender and sexuality.

Who's It For:

This book is intended for scholars, students, and readers interested in African Diaspora studies, Latin American history, and sociology. It is particularly beneficial for those seeking to understand the specific cultural contributions and political resistance movements of Afro-descendant communities in South America. Additionally, activists and policymakers focused on racial equity and territorial rights will find the book's regional case studies highly relevant.