Identity and memory: the remaining quilombola Margem da Linha in the city of Teófilo Otoni-MG

Abstract

This article aims to identify identity references constructed within the remaining quilombola community of Margem da Linha, located in the municipality of Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais. In 1881, the construction of the Bahia and Minas Railway began in the southern region of Bahia, extending into the northeastern part of Minas Gerais until reaching Teófilo Otoni in 1898. On the outskirts of this city, predominantly Black workers settled and established their homes in this territory. With the railway’s closure in 1966, the urban community underwent profound transformations. The arrival of new residents and the departure of railway workers and their families weakened the existing social networks. The central question posed is whether sociocultural characteristics of these quilombolas can still be identified. The study employed a qualitative approach, including a literature review and interviews with railway workers and their descendants. The findings indicate that the community has built strong identity references over the decades but has faced challenges in preserving this memory since the railway’s closure.