Analysis of the life conditions of quilombolas communities in Tocantins, Brazil

Abstract

The present study carried out a descriptive approach on the living conditions of families in some quilombola communities in the state of Tocantins. Through the application of a structured questionnaire, 414 families were interviewed, distributed in 21 quilombola communities in the State. From the interviews, it was observed that the communities were formed by a higher percentage of male quilombolas, in the adult age group. Many families had an income of up to one minimum wage, a value also made possible by the Bolsa Família Program, which complements the income of these families. In addition, a significant percentage of the residents engaged in farming and/or handicraft activities, and most of the population had Elementary School I (5th grade) as an educational level. The results of this study revealed that, despite having improved the access of quilombola communities to schools, many families are low-income and still lack basic sanitation and electricity in their homes. Therefore, the information presented here can contribute to the implementation of public policies aimed at quilombola communities in Tocantins.

Keywords

• black communities
• socioeconomic
• public politics