Imaging Brazil 052: Slaves’ Stairs in Itabira, MG (2006)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

052. Slaves’ stairs 

JANUARY 2006: Slaves’ stairs

Itabira is the city of famous Brazilian poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902-1987). The very productive writer wrote bout many subjects, mainly about everyday issues, or things from his personal environment. In Itabira, one may visit the house where he was born, the fazenda where he had lived with his family, and his house in the center. At the Fazenda do Pontal, one may travel back in time, to early twentieth century, and absorb the atmosphere of that era. The local guide told us enthusiastically about the compartments, and paid more attention to this apparently normal staircase. You might notice dark stains on the stairs. No stains due to aging, but stains of blood. Blood from slaves, who where castigated when they were forced to climb this staircase. Carlos had written a poem about this staircase.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2006, 2014