“GANHAR A VIDA”. A STORY OF THE AFRICAN ANTÔNIO JOSÉ DUTRA AND HIS FAMILY. RIO DE JANEIRO, 19TH CENTURY

Abstract

This article is about the arts of barbers who were also bleeders and musicians, centered on the story of one of them: Antonio José Dutra. The text also outlines biographical traits of his heirs. The patriarch “natural from the Kingdom of the Congo”, obtained manumission in earlies 1820s. In 1849, when he died, he had a barber shop, a band, 13 slaves and two properties. He was the father of six natural children, born of three relationships. On one hand, the children have failed the same success of the father, on the other, his cultural financial legacy was crucial to ther modest lives of free blacks in a slave society.

Keywords 19th century; Rio de Janeiro; barbers-surgeons; black family; music band