Tourist narratives of slavery landscapes: practices of memory on the interpretation of the Paraíba River Valley cultural heritage (Vale do Paraíba, SP, Brazil)

ABSTRACT

This text analyzes the tourist narratives as remembrance practices, discussing their relevance in the acknowledgement of the role of the enslaved African population in the social construction of Brazilian historical cities and its heritage. The present study is concentrated on the Historic Valley, located between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, whose history is marked by the coffee plantations and the massive presence of enslaved Africans and their descendants in the 19th century. By analyzing visits offered by coffee farms converted into tourist sites, it can be observed how the slavery institution and the presence and individuality of the enslaved are either minimized or invisibilized in these tourist programs, notwithstanding the extension, the productivity and the number of enslaved Africans being enormous in this region. The work is related to the project Tourism, Heritage and Social Development in the Paulista Historic Valley, São Paulo, developed at the University of São Paulo and funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPq.

KEYWORDS:
Tourist narratives; Slavery; Africans Remembrance; Representation