Feito bicho que invade roça: racismo e violência na Baixada Maranhense

Abstract

This research discusses the characteristics of racism imposed today over the Akroá-Gamella Indians, living at Maranhão’s “Baixada” area. Taking as method the photoetnography, document analysis and interviews, this study has as it’s epicenter the episodes form April 30, 2017, when 22 Indians were injured and two had their hands cut off with machetes when trying a new attempt to reclaim their ancestor territory. Racism, lies and punishment are seen here as security devices used by the State and local land owner’s armies to block Indigenous people’s access to their constitutional rights. These devices are often instrumentalized by the State, which becomes evident in a form of institutionalized racism that has as its main focus the economic development in detriment of Akroá-Gamella’s (sub)alterity.