The builders of São Paulo
When we look back and see the poverty of the colonial times, we would never imagine the wealth and the economic, social and cultural dynamism of São Paulo. Who built it?
First of all, it was what we call "São Paulo's exploiting spirit". It is surprising that, since the colonial period, in an inhospitable territory, a small population of Portuguese people living together with the Brazilian native indians and later on, with the African slaves - further forming a world of mamelucos, cafuzos and mulatos (blend of white people with indians, black people with indians and white and black people, respectively) - would be able, encouraged by their adventurous and ambitious spirit, to follow through with such a large and daring organization as bandeiras (exploitation groups), which would be responsible for establishing today's borders. And it was that blended population that, for 300 years, managed to keep the traditional culture of São Paulo, a caipira culture that still exists in the state's countryside region.
Those who consider the caipira culture an "outdated" culture are wrong. The so-called caipira culture is a mix of loyalty and a calm and clever cunning, a culture of men and women who have always known how to take advantage of the circumstances as a tool for their own survival within the poor conditions of São Paulo's province up to the 19th century. In the second half of the 20th century, immigrants came and adjusted themselves to this culture, bringing the unrivalled dynamism that is a characteristic of São Paulo.
What is the basis of the cultural mix of São Paulo's inhabitants? The correct answer is: the world! After all, men and women from more than 60 countries seeking new opportunities settled in the state. They were welcomed here since the province needed labor force to be used in coffee crops. Today, it is estimated that São Paulo has the world's third largest population of Italians, the largest population of Japanese people, the third largest population of Lebanese inhabitants, and the largest populations of Portuguese and Spanish people. The blend of races and cultures became more and more clear and deeply marked the city's cultural, social and economic life.
The end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century were periods marked by major changes worldwide. Wars and revolutions brought about unemployment and hunger in Europe. Large populations left their places to shelter from ethnic, political and religious pursues. Information about a new land, full of opportunities, circulated everywhere. Therefore, Brazil became the home of many other people aside from the Portuguese, who were here since the country's discovery, and the black Africans, forced to cross the Atlantic to work as slaves.
By adopting a careful migratory policy, the Brazilian Monarchy attracted new immigrants by granting them with land so that they could settle as small rural owners. Further, with the abolition of slavery in 1888, the alternative was the mass immigration to replace the slave work. Immigrants came in the third class and steamer cellars of ships, where the overcrowding and poor conditions favored the spreading of diseases, similar to what happened in the ships used to bring the black Africans. The difference was that they were not transporting slaves to Brazil. Many immigrants died during these journeys which, from Europe to Santos, used to take approximately 30 days. The government, as a way of supporting the 'importing' of labor force, placed these immigrants in temporary lodgings.
From 1887 on, Hospedaria do Imigrante (Immigrant's Hostel), in São Paulo (www.memorialdoimigrante.sp.gov.br), housed almost 3 million people. The hostel had dormitories, dining hall, nursery, ward, and hospital. Agência Oficial de Colonização e Trabalho (the Official Agency of Colonization and Work), responsible for sending the families to the countryside region, was part of Hospedaria do Imigrante. From 1930 on, Hospedaria started housing the country's migrants as well. Today, the hostel is home to Museu da Imigração (Immigration Museum), which tells us the immigrants' saga and pays a tribute to the anonymous heroes who helped build the state of São Paulo. In the beginning of the 20th century, São Paulo's working class was mainly comprised of immigrants. In 1901, the state had about 50,000 factory workers, of which less than 10% were Brazilians. The overwhelming majority was formed by Italians, followed by the Portuguese, Spanish, Germans and the Polish, among others. Each of these people had a good reason to come to a place like São Paulo, a land that, despite of being unknown, was full of hope.