1.Critically examine the role played by a) religion and legislation/courts/laws or institutions related to these in both the repression and liberation of enslaved Africans in Brazil. Clearly evaluate the contributions that each of these institutions made to black peoples oppression and struggle for freedom. In addition to referencing scholarly secondary sources, cite concrete examples from readings and films you studied in this course in your responses.
2. Using examples of films and readings you studied during this course, identify what you consider to be FOUR key modes of repression used to oppress African Brazilian people and deny them basic rights and equality in Brazil. Critically examine the efficacy of each of these repressive strategies and the impact, they had or still have on Afro-Brazilian people and communities THEN and NOW.
3. From the required readings and films for this class, identify FOUR revolutionary methods that the enslaved African Brazilian people used to liberate themselves OR to cope with the harsh conditions under slavery. Critically evaluate and outline the effectiveness, strengths, and weaknesses of each of these strategies and modes of rebellion and resistance. Provide your personal opinion on the value, efficacy, and success of each method.
4. The pervasiveness of slavery, the lateness of its abolition, and the fact that nothing was done to turn former slaves into citizens all combined to have a profound impact on Brazilian society. They are reasons for the extreme socioeconomic inequality that still scars the country today Discuss this statement paying specific attention to how these historical processes and events together with the subsequent military dictatorships impacted Afro-Brazilian peoples history, religion, culture, identity and overall experiences to this present day.
5. Paying particular attention to the religions, identities, music and dance forms of the enslaved African Brazilian people critically analyze the processes of acculturation, hybridization, transculturation and creolization that these cultural forms went through
during slavery and the post-emancipation era. In your response cite specific examples from both the films and readings and pay particular attention changes, raptures, and continuities that these forms experienced.