A colonialidade patrimonial: análise do impacto do racismo em políticas de preservação do patrimônio cultural em Juiz de Fora (1995–2020)

Abstract

This research is dedicated to analyzing how racism impacts legislation related to the protection and preservation of cultural manifestations, both tangible and intangible, in Brazil. Accordingly, throughout its development, the study seeks to answer the following question: “If racism is structural, how has Brazilian cultural heritage been affected by political cultures of exclusion and the silencing of Black population memories?”. To address this, the study takes as its empirical focus the construction and implementation of the State Law of Minas Gerais, No. 12.040 of 1995, which aims to redistribute a portion of the ICMS (Tax on the Circulation of Goods and Services) revenue to municipalities that actively identify, select, and protect their cultural manifestations. Specifically, we will investigate its application in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, as it was one of the first to establish local protective legislation and participate in the ICMS Cultural Heritage Program. Furthermore, Juiz de Fora was one of the main slaveholding centers in the state during the 19th century and had a significant contribution from the Black population in its development. Thus, the research covers the period from the enactment of the state law to the present, i.e., from 1995 to 2020, focusing on the historical interpretation of the cultural assets that were inventoried, listed, or registered during this time. The aim is to assess whether the state’s financial incentive and the ongoing efforts of Black movements contributed positively to a plural form of preservation that reflects the diversity and historical significance of racialized groups and individuals—or whether cultural heritage practices still reinforce colonial preservation policies and ideologies of whitening.