Clóvis Moura and Florestan Fernandes

Marxist interpretations of slavery, abolition and the emergence of free labor in Brazil

Abstract

The article analyzes the theoretical thinking of Clóvis Moura and Florestan Fernandes. At first, it analyzes points of convergence between these two authors, especially the relationship between slavery and capitalist accumulation; the importance of blacks as a dynamic agent of the social slave order; and the critical and materialistic interpretation of the myth of racial democracy. Subsequently, divergences between them are worked out in three more aspects: characteristics of slavery; the abolitionist process; the emergence of free labor. This approach is made by analyzing the comparison of works from the structuring period of both authors, between 1950 and 1970, with their last books, published at the turn of the 80's to 90's. It is concluded that, despite the strong convergences between Clóvis and Florestan, they present different lines to think about race relations, slavery and capitalism in Brazil.