The latex from the Amazon significantly boosted Belém's economy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries while simultaneously exploiting the laborers who harvested it.
From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, the extraction of latex in the Amazon played a crucial role in developing Belém's economy, earning it the nickname 'Paris of America'. This liquid, harvested from rubber trees, not only positioned Belém as a key exporter due to its strategic port location but also financed the construction of iconic urban infrastructures such as tree-lined avenues and monumental buildings. Historians emphasize the stark contrast between the thriving cityscape and the exploitation of the workers who toiled in harsh conditions to extract this valuable resource.
During the first rubber boom (1879-1912), Belém became a central hub for latex exportation, attracting a significant number of laborers, primarily from Northeastern Brazil, seeking employment. Despite contributing to the city's wealth and transformation, these workers faced dire living conditions and a debt bondage system that kept them subservient to their employers. A historian from the Federal University of Pará highlights the disparity between the economic prosperity generated by latex and the poverty experienced by those extracting it, as profits did not trickle down to improve the workers' situation.
This duality of wealth and exploitation in Belém's history serves as a reminder of the socio-economic inequalities that can accompany rapid economic development. The legacy of this period continues to shape the city's identity and raises important questions about labor rights and historical injustices in regions reliant on natural resources for economic gain. The story of Belém reflects broader themes of colonialism, migration, and the complex relationships between resource wealth and human cost in the Amazon basin.
