During Brazil's imperial government (1822 - 1889) the longest and largest civil war in the country's history took place: the Farroupilha Revolution. Moved by local elites, republican in character and with separatist objectives, the revolution took place in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (extreme south of Brazil) between 1835 and 1845. And to combat the powerful forces of the empire, the leaders of the revolution recruited black slaves to fight on their side. In exchange, they would get their dreamed freedom. The group, which would come to play a prominent role in the war and be feared by the enemy's forces, became known as the Black Lancers.
As the war wore on, the Black Lancers became a decisive point in the peace negotiation. The freedom promised by the leaders of the revolution was not accepted by the Empire. And the impasse ended in the Battle of Porongos (1844). Unarmed, a squadron of camped black lancers was surprised by the imperial troops. A genocide. It was the end of the dream of freedom. And in this context, one of the most controversial stories to this day emerges: were the Black Lancers betrayed by the Republican leaders in exchange for peace with the Empire?
"Black Lancers", is a series of portraits with black leaders from the local community (senator, councilman, actors, judges, athletes, etc.) in Brazil.