Biographical displays of manuel henrique pereira (besouro cordão de ouro/besouro mangagá) and the art of capoeiragem in santo amaro da Bahia, Brazil

The main objective of this article was to investigate some facts, deeds, myths and truths about the Capoeirista from Santo Amaro, Bahia, Manuel Henrique Pereira, popularly known as Besouro Cordão de Ouro and/or Besouro Mangagá. To do so, we used the basic exploratory biographical case study method with a qualitative approach. As for the techniques of data collection and information generation, the interview technique was applied, always aided by the field diary instrument. Concomitantly, research was also carried out in public archives where primary documentary sources were consulted. Regarding the use of analysis techniques, content analysis and critical-reflexive contextual narrative discourse were used. The results show that Manuel Henrique Pereira, Besouro Cordão de Ouro, an excellent capoeirista, was one more victim of social class hatred because of his skin color, social class and because his capoeira art was criminalized in its context. The prejudice of social class, ethnicity, and place of origin is clear. We conclude that, for being a black man, practicing the art of capoeira, criminalized at the time, and for not accepting the judgment of the oppressor, by resisting the demands of prejudice and discrimination, Manuel Henrique Pereira, Besouro Cordão de Ouro, lived a short, fearless and conflicted life.