The creation of Black neighborhoods and the formation of Black identities

Abstract

This paper presents the formation of Black identities based on the development of specific neighborhoods in Salvador (BA), analyzed as a fundamental category for understanding the formation of Brazilian cities. These spaces were shaped by Afro-Brazilian social and cultural values which, although counter-hegemonic in relation to the dominant culture, became central to their organization. In contrast to traditional urban history, we propose a shift in perspective by examining urbanization processes from the experience of historically subalternized groups. The methodology is grounded in accounts and narratives from residents, obtained through interviews. This approach, combined with the analysis of processes of collective (self)construction and resistance in these neighborhoods over decades, reveals a significant reinterpretation of these places: once perceived as symbols of deprivation and subjection, they now emerge as representations of struggle, achievement, and cultural and social strength, resulting in a positive re-signification of identities.