Dia da conciencia negra, Black Consciousness Day, in Brazil. November 20. It’s a day celebrating the struggle of Black organizations, people, and movements in Brazil. Celebrating the ongoing fight against racism. And, above all, celebrating the history of Brazil’s most historic Black leader: Zumbi dos Palmares.

He was a leader of the great Palmares Quilombo, an autonomous state built by escaped slaves in present day Alagoas in the 1600s.

Palmares would last for roughly a century. It would grow to have a population of tens of thousands of people spread out over 11 towns in the forested mountains and hillsides of northeastern Brazil. And they would have to defend it time and time again against attacks by the Portuguese colonial army.

At the time, Brazil was a huge Portuguese colony. Some say the Palmares Quilombo may have been equal to the size of the entire country of Portugal. They had their own systems of agriculture, fishing, hunting and trading. And this independent state built by escaped slaves and their ancestors was a thorn in the side of Portuguese rule.

Zumbi dos Palmares was born free in Palmares in 1655. The quilombo had already been in existence for a generation or two. When Zumbi dos Palmares was a small boy  he was kidnapped and handed over to a Portuguese missionary.

In his teens, Zumbi escaped and returned to Palmares. He would become the head of the Palmares Quilombo defense forces in 1675.

But there was conflict. See, his uncle, Ganga Zumba, was the leader of the Palmares Quilombo. He had been born in Central Africa. They say he was the son of an African king in Kongo before he was captured, ripped across the ocean, forced into slavery, and finally escaped and made his way to Palmares.

But by the late 1670s, Ganga Zumba was willing to negotiate with the Portuguese. He accepted a peace treaty that offered freedom for the people of the Palmares Quilombo if they relocated.

Zumbi dos Palmares refused. He didn’t trust the Portuguese. He would not agree while so many more were enslaved elsewhere. While thousands toiled on the plantations across the region. Zumbi challenged Zumba’s power and took charge of Palmares.

The Portuguese responded by sending waves of expeditions—military onslaughts against the quilombo. One after the next. Year after year, starting in 1680. All of them were defeated by Zumbi and his forces. One after the next. After the next.

But in 1694, the Portuguese again laid siege to the Palmares Quilombo. It took them more than 40 days to defeat the kingdom, finally capturing the main Palmares settlement, Cerca do Macaco.

Zumbi would lead a resistance struggle. But on Nov. 20, 1695, he was killed and decapitated. It was the end of the Palmares Quilombo. The end of Zumbi.

But his legacy runs deep. He’s been immortalized in songs. There’s even an airport named after him. There are statues of Zumbi across the country. On Nov. 20, people march for Black Consciousness Day. They march for Zumbi. A reminder of the Black and Indigenous resistance against the Portuguese. Resistance not just in defense of their land and territory, but also in defense of their freedom, and their own way of life.

Resistance against slavery. Resistance against colonial oppression. Resistance that continues to inspire until today.

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Hi, folks. Thanks for listening. I’m your host, Michael Fox. I have attended many Black Consciousness Day celebrations over the years in Brazil. I’ll add some links to my reporting over the years about this day and Black organizing and struggle in Brazil in the show notes.

Folks, I have more incredible news. You might remember that Stories of Resistance recently won a Gold Signal award for best history podcast. Well this week, it also won a Gold Anthem Award in the category of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We are honored.

This is episode 77 of Stories of Resistance. If you don’t already subscribe to the show you can follow the links in the show notes. Stories of Resistance is produced by The Real News. Each week, I bring you stories of resistance and hope like this. Inspiration for dark times. And please, if you like what we do, rate us, leave a comment or a review, and help us spread the word.

As always, thanks for listening. See you next time.