The 130^th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Brazil is being marked in 2018. The anniversary will be theme of the 2^nd International Seminar – Stories of the Post-Abolition in the Atlantic World, featuring an extensive debate on several aspects of Brazilian culture and society related to the topic. The meeting, which will be held between May 15 and 18, will also share insights that transcend the chronological milestone of May 13, in addition to expanding beyond Brazil’s experience.

Scientific papers submitted to the event’s organization will be presented during the event, which will be held at FGV’s main office (Praia de Botafogo, 190. Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro/RJ). A total of 228 papers were submitted and 70 to 80 will be selected for the event. The seven thematic axes of papers considered for the debate are: ‘Memory and Public History of slavery and freedom’; ‘Racism and anti-racism in historical perspective’; ‘Black intellectuals and activists’; ‘Social trajectories and practices: race, class, gender, and sexuality’; ‘Post-abolition historiographic balance’; ‘Public policies for repairing Atlantic slavery’; and ‘Re-education of ethnic-racial relations’.

The meeting will be opened by American historian Thomas Holt, a professor at the University of Chicago and an expert in post-abolition studies. “Thomas Holt’s lecture will be one of the highlights of the event. He has done extensive research related to the theme in the U.S., as well as comparative studies with Brazil”, said professor Ynaê Lopes dos Santos, coordinator of the Ethnic and Racial Studies Lab of FGV’s School of Social Sciences (CPDOC).

The meeting will consist of panels with guest researchers from Brazil and abroad, addressing issues related to the thematic axes, as well as presentations by the researchers who have submitted their papers and scientific initiation students and professors from the basic network, who will present classroom research results. The seminar is an inter-institutional initiative involving FGV, UFF, UFRRJ, UFRJ, Casa de Rui Barbosa, Unilab, and UnB.

“The post-abolition theme deserves to be better studied. We want to bring up issues of this period and check on the state of the art of these studies in Brazil and abroad”, said Santos. The professor points out that there is also a focus on discussing issues of the post-abolition period with society. “We want to make the meeting as diverse as possible, taking discussions beyond the academic world”, said Santos.

Go to the website to learn more and to register.