The Living Legacies of Slavery: Racism and Racial Acrobatics in North-East Brazilian Puppet Play, 1940–80

Abstract This article probes the racially conflictual plotlines of mamulengo , a form improvised popular puppetry in North-East Brazil. Drawing on corpus transcribed shows performed between 1940s and 1970s, it how audacious Black protagonists – often named Baltazar or Benedito took part game racial ‘acrobatics’. By playing roles fools ( bobos ) aggressors desordeiros ), these heroes simultaneously reproduced racist status quo offered spirited violent resistance to its abuses. While has never been brought bear discussions race Brazil, this oft-overlooked cultural expression forces us confront uncomfortable aspects race-making belonging as they are elaborated ‘from below’.