Taking Root in the Diaspora: Plantations, Agribusiness, and the Racialization of Societies under Colonialism

Abstract (English)

The present paper explores the centrality of plantations in shaping social, economic, and racial hierarchies in Brazil, understanding them not only as colonial economic structures but as systems of social organization. The discussion incorporates themes such as the Plantationocene and how forced labor and racialization have shaped these societies, reflected in contemporary inequalities and environmental racism. The text also emphasizes the importance of recovering silenced narratives to understand the roots of current inequalities. By connecting history, anthropology, and ecology, the article highlights how the legacy of plantations remains alive, influencing everything from labor relations to environmental impacts and disputes over the construction of memory and collective identity.