Summary
On October 13, 2022, Cristina Sturmer, an activist, and researcher with Brazil’s Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST), Landless Rural Workers Movement participated in Baruch College’s Black Studies Colloquium symposium “Black Futures: Black Ecologies.” The following post is a reflection of what I learned from her talk, from my research on the MST, and how I connected it to our class Afro-Latinidades taught by Dr. Rojo Robles.
By Yuddy Fermin
On October 13, 2022, Cristina Sturmer, an activist, and researcher with Brazil’s Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST), Landless Rural Workers Movement participated in Baruch College’s Black Studies Colloquium symposium “Black Futures: Black Ecologies.” The following post is a reflection of what I learned from her talk, from my research on the MST, and how I connected it to our class Afro-Latinidades taught by Dr. Rojo Robles.
The Brazil Landless Workers Movement, or Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST) in Portuguese, is a social movement that originated in Brazil for rural workers and others in their fight against social inequality and their urge for land reform. The MST was founded in 1984. It responded to how capitalism has become detrimental to rural workers and families. Before its founding in the 1970s, Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship. During this time, many living in rural areas suffered unemployment and displacement. This was due to these regions’ general “modernization.” As stated by the MST since then, “land concentration, the expulsion of the poor from rural areas and the modernization of agriculture persisted.”
The MST recognized this urgency. They addressed the right to land and occupation and began to work towards implementing a more democratic perspective on the Brazilian people. As the movement expanded over the years, the fight was for more than just land reform. Eventually, MST became organized into different sectors and collectives to formulate policies that would further acknowledge and spread awareness of the other struggles affecting landless people. These sectors include production, cooperation, political education, culture, communications, youth, education, health, human rights, environment, gender, and the LGBTQ+ sector. Their primary objectives are “to fight for land, land reform, and a more just and fraternal society.” Social transformation is the imperative goal for the MST. They believe that dividing the land will not solve all the issues of inequality among the Brazilian people.
Projects Developed by MST
As previously acknowledged, the transformation of agriculture within Brazil involved the mechanization of agricultural systems harmful to farm workers and the environment. The MST proposes various ecological projects that reform an economy created for large corporations. Food and other natural resources are being sold as commodities, not as necessities. To diverge from this economic model and support rural regions, the MST proposed a program that prioritizes food sovereignty for Brazil. They produce healthy food and promote the inclusive democratization of land ownership.
Additionally, they suggest the equal distribution of natural resources while reducing the influences of large corporations and businesses that lack environmental concerns. The new lands and farms are expected to be designated to the Brazilian people and follow reformed guidelines to ensure further the production of healthy foods and the salvation of the environment.
The MST projects also range towards the sectors created by the organization to address the issues of local families and individuals. The Florestan Fernandes National School, for example, was founded to educate and train MST members, along with the working class. This current dormitory project is meant to facilitate educational programs and activities for MST members and other activists to further the flow of information and events recognizing the cause.
Additionally, as stated by Cristina Sturmer, the MST has proposed planting 100 million trees within ten years. They started in 2020 and hope to reach that mark by 2030. Their solidarity includes an economic process initiated through donating six million kilograms of food and one million meals from Brazil to vulnerable areas.
MST’s Black Feminist Social Justice Vision
The MST heavily emphasizes equality amongst gender. As stated by MST, they “believe that to grow as new women and men, new economic, social, political and environmental relationships must be based on values such as respect, friendship, solitary, justice, and love.” Knowing that there are clear gender imbalances, especially in land distribution and ownership, their endeavors are concentrated on discussing gender relations while also securing and strengthening the role of women. They build spaces focused on debating field issues, the Brazilian reality and proposing alternatives.
Women are leaders within these groups. Access to land and having equal participation of women within the MST are crucial to their goals and programs.
For example, addressing domestic violence during the pandemic is essential for the MST. They conceive its annual “Woman’s Day” on March 8th as a date to fight and encourage women’s rights while also protesting domestic violence. This date expands the women’s movement within the larger MST. It recognizes the all-too-common violence against women within the country and even the organization.
Afro-Brazilians and Afro-Latinxs in the US, a Possible Conversation
54% of Brazil’s population identifies as black. Many are also affected by the inequalities endured by farmers and landless workers. The fight for equality is intersectional. Even though Brazil’s population is majority black, a social, economic, and political imbalance exists between the black Brazilian community and their white counterparts. These injustices could resonate amongst Afro-Latinxs in the United States. The MST could inspire Afro-Latinxs to seek education on the African diaspora issues and encourage substantial systems for people of color within the US based on equity and environmental justice. Many of the problems facing Brazilians have a parallel in the US. In the MST’s discourse and activism lies many tools that help the black Brazilian community. Solidarity and learning from successful activist models are essential. The Afro-Latinxs in the US and Afro-descendants worldwide need the same sanctuaries for people of color that the MST has created and continues to develop. Afro-Latinxs within the U.S. can recognize these issues in regions beyond the US territory and use this knowledge to spread awareness of these movements and their proposals, especially since the unity of Afro-descendants globally is one of the main goals sought by these organizations endeavoring for justice and freedom.