As territorialidades da juventude na comunidade quilombola Barra de Aroeira, em Santa Tereza do Tocantins - TO

Abstract

It seeks to focus the territorialities of youth in the quilombola community Barra de Aroeira, based on the quilombola identity in interaction with the geographic transformations present in the territory. It seeks to understand the ethnic identity linked to the territory, to analyze the relation of the youth in the constitution of the community and to interpret the network of itineraries of the young people through the territorialities. For such, we followed the methodological paths through the bibliographical survey, followed by the geographical experiences with the participant observation, the oral history, the semistructured interviews that were recorded and the photographic records. We still use documentary analysis. Young quilombolas live the dilemmas between staying in or leaving the community. The driving force of young people leaving is the search for other opportunities, especially at work and also in a few cases to continue their studies. It is understood that the young category is part of a social construction and therefore it is necessary to refer to youth in the plural, since it represents the diversity of situations in which young people are immersed, such as: social classes, ethnicities, religion, Gender, geography. The young quilombolas of Barra de Aroeira live a geography geared towards the rural universe, with an ethnic bond anchored in the territory. The young quilombolas have desires and dreams, live the possibilities that the geographical reality imposes them. The inherent conflicts between different generations are part of daily life, where for some young people are distant and for others they are without opportunities. There is the historical process - which led to territorial reduction - the consequence of the distancing of agricultural activities. Even so, all the young quilombolas interviewed identify themselves as quilombolas and recognize the history of the community, with its important places and its traditions. We understand that, despite the presence of colonial hegemonic thinking, it is up to the youth to re-signify the knowledge handed down between generations and to live the potential that the territory allows.