Description
Back in 2014, seeking to answer the question, “Where are the Black Brazilians in coffee?”, Phyllis Johnson teamed up with several women in Brazilian coffee, from whom she learned that, “most [Black Brazilians in coffee] were employees, or sharecroppers, and very few owned land”.
From there, Phyllis sought out Black Brazilian landowners and listened to their stories – stories that became The Triumph, which features the Peixoto and Romão families, whose history with coffee goes back to the early days of coffee farming in Brazil.
As Kelly Quirino, researcher in race relations & journalism at the University of Brasilia writes, “During the colonization of Brazil, many Africans arrived in the ‘New World,’ enslaved to work in the gold mines of Minas Gerais, sugar cane fields, and cotton and coffee plantations…
“The labor of our ancestors offered tremendous wealth accumulation for the landowners and economic development for the country. In Brazil, coffee plantations gave us our first factories and the infrastructure of modern cities were built from the trade of coffee. Coffee became known as Black Gold…
“More important than the enormous wealth and riches created by enslaved people are the untold stories that live within Black Brazilians to this day. This booklet is a way to begin sharing their stories and providing opportunities to Black Brazilian coffee producers to be recognized for the role they have played in this important global industry.”
Hearing stories about the daily racism faced by these farmers and how it affected their lives across generations reinforced Phyllis Johnson’s belief that “we must use our talents to continue to shed light on opportunities to build a more equitable industry…
“It is our hope that Black Brazilians will become more prominent in an industry their ancestors helped to establish, and that this work is the start of positive change,” says Phyllis.
Want to enjoy a cup of coffee while reading a book about the farmers who grew it? Pick up a bag of the Peixoto family’s coffee along with the book to enhance your experience.
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