A terra, a pele, o axé em Torto Arado – literatura e ensino de História

Abstract

This research provides an analysis of the book "Torto Arado" and its potential to be used in history classes, aiming to present a product that can assist teachers in Basic Education in building an anti-racist education. For this reason, the author Itamar Vieira Júnior's biography is presented, along with an overview of the work and its structure, with a focus on the narrative, which primarily revolves around the issue of race. Moreover, some aspects of the book's structure are discussed, and a brief overview of part of the critical reception already produced about the book is provided. The central axis of this work is to contemplate how the literary work "Torto Arado" represents, from the perspective of its author, Itamar Vieira Júnior, fundamental issues about Brazil, the land, racism, and religiosity. "Torto Arado" is a novel that exposes the daily life of quilombolas in the interior of Bahia, more precisely in the Chapada Diamantina. With strong characters who are fighters and resistant, the work portrays the daily lives of families descended from slaves and their efforts to keep their stories and traditions alive, as well as their relationship with the land. This allows for a discussion of structural racism, empowerment, and religious intolerance. It is essential to recognize that the approach to combating racism taken in this work differs from that of many contemporary literature authors but is no less effective because of it. On the contrary, it presents itself as an innovative possibility for addressing the racial issues that are prevalent in our everyday lives.