School of Social and Political Science

Description

This talk explores my investigation into the evolving role of genealogy among the descendants of Baron de Juparanã, a 19th-century coffee producer who fathered 25 children with five enslaved women, emphasising its significance as a tool for understanding hereditary pathologies and family identity. It examines how these descendants perceive physical and mental illnesses, as well as suicides, not merely as genetic issues but as intricately linked to consanguineous marriages within the family, particularly between cousins.

Genealogy is analysed both as a method for tracing lineage and as a means of addressing familial issues. Through detailed genealogical mapping, my research uncovers complex familial relationships, including arranged marriages and efforts at racial whitening, and examines the impact of these practices on family dynamics. Ultimately, the talk assesses the limitations of genealogical charts in fully capturing the spectrum of kinship and identity, particularly in contexts where individuals are seen as interconnected through shared experiences and legacies.

This event is hybrid - to join on Zoom, please register on Eventbrite (link below). For queries, please get in touch with the Kinship: More or Less Hub