How Slaves’ Resistance Secured Liberal Democracy (opens in new tab)

LONDON—In the early 17th century, deep within the palm forests of northeastern Brazil, a group of people escaped slavery and founded an independent settlement. They named it Palmares and welcomed others fleeing bondage to join them. The settlers described their community as a kilombo, meaning “refuge” or “war camp” in Kimbundu. In Portuguese, the term became quilombo and [...]