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Pata Seca: The African Slave Breeder Who Produced Over 200 Offspring for Their Owner.
Pata Seca, also known as Roque José Florêncio, was an African who endured a life marked by oppression and dehumanization in Brazil. His tragic existence revolved around his role as a breeder, having been specifically purchased to produce offspring for the profit of his owner.

Born in Sorocaba, São Paulo, in the first half of the 19th century, Pata Seca came under the ownership of a farmer from São Carlos, São Paulo. Standing at an impressive height of 7'2", he was considered the perfect candidate for the role of a breeder. Consequently, Pata Seca was chosen specifically to engage in relationships with enslaved women, with the aim of producing a robust workforce endowed with advantageous genetic traits.

Pata Seca's life was entirely dictated by the desires of his owner. He was meticulously examined for diseases, well-fed, and, much like livestock, employed as a breeder. The precise number of women he engaged with or the frequency of these encounters remains unknown. However, it is estimated that Pata Seca fathered over 200 children who inherited his enslaved status. As a result, they too endured lives as slaves, with some being sold for profit and others compelled to work on their owner's plantations. Beyond his breeding duties, Pata Seca also tended to horses and was entrusted with the responsibility of transporting correspondence between the farm and the town.

Thanks to his success in producing a significant number of offspring for his owner, Pata Seca received relatively favorable treatment. He was granted special privileges and even received a plot of land from his master when slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1888. Upon gaining his freedom, Pata Seca found love and companionship in a woman named Palmira, whom he later married. Together, they were blessed with nine children, forming the foundation of their own family. On the land provided by his former master, Pata Seca dedicated himself to building a new life for his loved ones. Assuming the role of a farmer, he owned and operated "Sítio Pata Seca," his own farm. Here, he worked diligently in the production and sale of rapadura, a solid form of unrefined sugar cane. Despite his modest income, Pata Seca used it to meet his family's needs, nurture their well-being, and nurture dreams for a brighter future.

However, tragedy struck Pata Seca's life when he accidentally stepped on a nail one fateful morning that would seal his fate. The injury resulted in tetanus, and despite receiving initial treatment from a local healer, Pata Seca's condition deteriorated rapidly. Consequently, Pata Seca passed away in February 1958 at the age of 130, just three months after participating in the town's anniversary parade as the oldest resident in the county. Pata Seca's life serves as a haunting reminder of the immense suffering endured by enslaved Africans in Brazil. Despite facing adversity, his legacy endures as a testament to the resilience and endurance of those who navigated the darkest chapters of history.

I recommend exploring articles that delve into the breeding practices of enslaved individuals in the United States during the 19th century. These articles shed light on the disturbing= practices of treating enslaved Africans as livestock, highlighting the historical context and details surrounding aspects of slavery in America.