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In honor of #Juneteenth 
a quick thread about the Black Muslim rebellion in Brazil only 30 years before Juneteenth known as the Male` Revolt.
a quick thread about the Black Muslim rebellion in Brazil only 30 years before Juneteenth known as the Male` Revolt.
During Ramadan in 1835, the Male` (from the Yoruba word for Muslim) led one of the most significant slave rebellions in Brazilian history.
Muslim imams and religious scholars had been preaching liberty for some time and their message had gained a strong following. #Juneteenth
Muslim imams and religious scholars had been preaching liberty for some time and their message had gained a strong following. #Juneteenth
One such teacher was Pacífico Licutan, an elderly Muslim who used to teach Islam to his fellow slaves in his room. He went by Bilal after the historic first muezzin of Islam.
His students tried to buy his freedom, but he was put in prison.
His students tried to buy his freedom, but he was put in prison.
They were also inspired by the Haitian Revolution. They had heard the stories and read the accounts and saw themselves as aligned in purpose.
They demonstrated this dual inspiration by wearing necklaces of President Dessalines along with Qu'ranic amulets for protection
They demonstrated this dual inspiration by wearing necklaces of President Dessalines along with Qu'ranic amulets for protection
Unfortunately word of the revolution spread through the rumor mill and the authorities were alerted. As such they were prepared and met the revolutionaries w/ force.
Armed guards at the prison where they had hoped to liberate their fellows & gain weapons were able to repel them
Armed guards at the prison where they had hoped to liberate their fellows & gain weapons were able to repel them
The male` fought valiantly but were defeated after a cavalry charge.
In the aftermath anyone found with Arabic documents was immediately associated with the rebellion. Several were executed, many imprisoned, and many more deported.
Islam in Brazil was forcibly silenced
In the aftermath anyone found with Arabic documents was immediately associated with the rebellion. Several were executed, many imprisoned, and many more deported.
Islam in Brazil was forcibly silenced
Slavery continued for another 50 years in Brazil, long after #Juneteenth but the Male` Revolt is a reminder of the transnational and global struggle for liberation
You can read more thanks to the great scholarship of Margarita Rosa https://yaqeeninstitute.org/margarita-rosa/duas-of-the-enslaved-the-male-slave-rebellion-in-bahia-brazil/#.XQqM3IhKg2w
but the Male` Revolt is a reminder of the transnational and global struggle for liberationYou can read more thanks to the great scholarship of Margarita Rosa https://yaqeeninstitute.org/margarita-rosa/duas-of-the-enslaved-the-male-slave-rebellion-in-bahia-brazil/#.XQqM3IhKg2w
