“NÓS TODO O TEMPO QUEREMOS SER AQUILO QUE NÓS SOMOS”: produção de identidades e luta pelo território da Comunidade Quilombola Deserto II (Belágua/MA)

Abstract

This work is dedicated to understanding the construction of the collective identity of the residents of the Deserto II Community, located in Belágua, Maranhão, Brazil. The choice of this community stems from the scarcity of sociological studies on the region, thus contributing to filling a gap in the academic literature. The research focuses on understanding how the history of this community, marked by ancestral resistance and struggles for land ownership, shapes the identity of its members. The research problem revolves around the following questions: Do the identity elements of the Deserto II community allow it to be categorized as a quilombola remnant? How do the community’s residents relate to the territory they occupy? What are their memories of the history and trajectory of the community? To address these questions, the general objective is to understand the history, form, and dynamics of the occupation of the Deserto II Community and its influence on the community’s identity and territoriality. The specific objectives are: to identify the relationship between the residents and their territory; to understand the conflicts, segregation, and resistance related to the community’s permanence; and to observe, through interviews and documents, the initial steps in the community’s pursuit of territorial titling. To achieve these objectives, a qualitative approach was adopted, combining documentary, bibliographic, and ethnographic research. For field data collection, an ethnographic incursion was chosen, consisting of three four-day stays in February, March, April, and May 2023. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 community residents, direct descendants of the founder, to capture identity elements, dynamics, and trajectories related to the territory. The theoreticalmethodological foundations adopted for data analysis are based on the following authors: ethnographic concepts from Angrosino (2009); identity concepts as discussed by Max Weber (1991) and Fredrik Barth (2011); studies on power relations and the struggle for citizenship and rights in the face of marginalization and social inequality by Boaventura de Sousa Santos (1995) and Carril (2006); collective memory as defined by Pollak (1989) and Maurice Halbwachs (1990); and oral history by Marre (1991). The results highlight the complexity of the self-identification process of the quilombola community of Deserto II, with the territory emerging as a central element of its identity, understood not only as a geographical space but also as a symbol of collective memory, resistance, and cultural continuity. Quilombola identity was observed as dynamic, constructed through lived experiences, social interactions, and political engagement. The struggle for territorial titling proved to be essential for the community’s security, dignity, and cultural continuity, emphasizing the leading role of female leadership. The study also points to the need for inclusive public policies and intersectional analyses between territorial rights and environmental justice, given the impacts of agribusiness, to ensure the cultural and environmental preservation of the community.