Abstract:

The aim of this work is to discuss the Afro-Brazilian cultural values in the contemporary society, from the cultural field, as well as the emphasis of black people’s ways of expressing. Although black people original from Africa could not bring with them their belongings, they brought with them great and deep cultural experiences and their way to understand the world and to relate with the sacred as well as their manners and customs. Powerful identity elements expressed by some communities denote a sense of belonging, such as the language, the religion and the cultural patterns. The main goal is to recognize the Afro-Brazilian culture as a factor of relevance in the construction of Brazilian society. The specific goals are to acknowledge the influence of Afro-Brazilian history and culture in the composition of the Brazilian society and to identify the representations of Afro-Brazilian culture in Pirapora municipality, North of Minas Gerais State, in a time frame within 2010 and 2012. The theme debated is based on the governmental measure of affirmative policy, through the law 10.639 that modified law 9.394, December 20th, 1996, which establishes the Directives and Bases of National Education (LDBE), including, as compulsory, the theme Afro-Brazilian history and culture to the official curricula of basic public and private schools in the country. This act will lead to a commitment by teachers, students, researchers and citizens to implement it, applying themselves on its accomplishment. The methodology used consisted of qualitative research based on techniques of bibliographic reviews, document analyses on the city archival records and on non-systematic observation. As results, it is seen that within the globalizing historic context, experienced by the Piraporense society, Afro-Brazilian cultural manifestations, also known as popular cultures, have been created collectively and modified along the years. Transmitted form generations to generations, aiming the constant recreation by communities, peoples’ cultural heritage is kept through their interaction with their own history and identity.

Keywords:

Afro-Brazilian culture, Value increase, Public Policy, Pirapora/MG.