A geografia na obra de José Américo

Abstract

Since its inception, the Center for Geographic and Ecological Research of the José Américo House Foundation, on behalf of its researchers, has proposed an analysis of the books published by José Américo from the perspective of Geography. Although the number of writings on the work of our patron is considerable, this seminar, paraphrasing José Américo himself, will seek to see what others have not yet seen, because, being a collection of universal character, it will always allow the exploration of new aspects, identifying dimensions hitherto unknown. Examining José Américo's intellectual production, one discovers that he was not just a novelist who constructed other literary genres, nor was he an administrator or a social scientist, as so many have said. These days, we will try to prove that he was one of the precursors of modern Geography, since his work not only marked a modern regionalism, showing the exotic Brazilian Northeast in his books, but also translated, in his administrative reports and political speeches, the concern with the space produced by man, the true object of modern Geography. His works, whether fictional or not, record cultural references, geographic limits, life experiences, political engagement and discuss historical and regional roots in such a way that, thinking and writing as a novelist, the administrator never stopped discussing the Northeastern issue and the need for man's eternal struggle to overcome challenges and write his trajectory. José Américo once said "you can crush a man, but you cannot crush a people, you cannot stifle ideas, you cannot squeeze the anxious exhortations of a new era in your throat." Imbued with this challenging message, as coordinator of this seminar, I wish to urge all participants to rediscover, produce and build something new during these days of study and debate, always considering the geographical meaning and interpretation of the social and economic issues of the Northeast and especially of Paraíba. May the light of José Américo's knowledge shine into the third millennium, encouraging new generations to shine, based on the knowledge of a man who was passionate about the problems of his land and his people, and who, through his work, entered history with great dignity.