Number 20 - Cais do Valongo

Only a block from Jardim Suspenso do Valongo is the newly discovered Cais do Valongo - Valongo Quays. Built in 1811 in order to disembark slaves, it was rediscovered in 2010, when workers installing a new drainage system, as part of the revitalization of the area, came upon hundreds of personal objects belonging to former African slaves.

The city of Rio has made it part of its Historical Circuit of African Heritage.

The site is well preserved, and there are information boards telling the story of the quays. The African heritage is a part of Brazilian history that is not often mentioned, let alone given great importance. It is believed that about one million slaves arrived at the Cais do Valongo. The new circuit has shred a greater light on the lives of these slaves, and has been the reason for numerous debates on the issues of class and race division in Brazil.

As I walked around quietly taking my pictures, I became aware of a small group discussing exactly these issues. It made me think about how important it is to preserve such sites, in order to help children from the African- descended community construct an identity. I realize, though, that it is even more important that all Brazilians rethink the idea of Brazil as a perfect melting pot. There is still a long way to go before we get to a society where it is self-evident that all men are created equal and have the same rights. Having a history is part of that. I finish off with a quote by Hundertwasser: "If we do not honor our past we lose our future. If we destroy our roots we cannot grow."