Anastacia Escrava
The Story
of Anastacia Escrava
As the story is told
Anstacia was born to Delminda from the Bantu tribe in Southern Nigeria and
Cameroon. Delminda was royal blood from the Galanga family and she was
brought to Brazil in 1740 as a slave.
Delminda was sold by Antonio
Rodrigues Velho, previously raped by a European man and pregnant at the time
she was sold to Joaquina Pompeu.
In March of 1740, she gave
birth to Anastacia, who was born with blue eyes, a rarity in Brazil for a black
child. Anastacia grew up to be a very beautiful woman and Joaquin Antonio, the owner’s
son became obsessed with her. Anastacia fought against Joaquin’s advances
toward her and the women jealous of her beauty suggested that he make her wear
a metal mask. This did not keep Antonio from raping Anastacia and as punishment
for her refusal of his advances Antonio made her wear the mask. Anastacia wore
this mask for the remainder of her life only removing it once a day to eat. As a
result of the continuous wear of the mask for years, Anastacia developed a toxicity
to the metal and succumb to tetanus.
The story of Anastacia Escrava is
considered to be the most important story told in Rio de Janeiro of a woman in
black history.
It is said toward the end of
her life Anastacia had the gift of healing. She forgave the mistreatment she
suffered at the hands of her owner and his mistress, healing his son.
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