Born in Jacarezinho a favela in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone Romário became a famous footballer. Jacarezinho means Little Jacaré named after the Jacaré River. The river’s name means winding not after the caiman. Jacarezinho is a large favela. Over 60300 people live there. It’s the third largest favela in Rio after Rocinha and Complexo do Alemão. It expanded during Rio’s industrialization. By the mid-20th century it was Rio’s biggest favela. In 1960 it had 23000 residents. The nearby Méier district’s industrial boom after World War II fueled this growth. Historian Julio Cesar Pino explains this in his book about Rio’s favelas.
Jacarezinho faces common favela challenges. These include violence poverty and drug dealing. A 2021 police shootout left at least 25 dead. The favela has its own samba school. Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Unidos do Jacarezinho was founded on June 16 1966. Its colors are pink and white.
Jacarezinho’s history is intertwined with Afro-Brazilian history. It was once part of the Engenho Novo district near Engenho de Dentro and Engenho da Rainha. Early settlers chose the hilltop for safety. They feared the capitães do mato men who captured runaway slaves. Jacarezinho sheltered escaped slaves making it an urban quilombo. When the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception was built in Engenho Novo slave remains were found. A samba song tells of freed Black people heading to Serra do Matheus in Boca do Mato. The area was once owned by the Vargas family who donated land. The land was appropriated after abolition Rumba Gabriel questions how one can donate what they didn’t buy.
The area’s industrialization further shaped Jacarezinho. Factories like Concórdia and Fábrica Unida de Tecidos spurred migration. The railroad and proximity to industrializing areas like Maria da Graça and Jacaré drew residents from the city center. Others came from rural areas and Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais. The favela experienced growth when Governor Carlos Lacerda created the Complexo Industrial do Jacaré in the neighboring Jacaré district. This provided jobs and boosted the community’s political activity.
Today Jacarezinho continues to grapple with its challenges. It is served by the SuperVia Belford Roxo rail line. The line connects Central do Brasil to Belford Roxo. However despite the efforts of community leaders like Rumba Gabriel who built a cultural center and cooperative Jacarezinho struggles with poverty and violence. The 2021 Operation Exceptis a police operation targeting child trafficking resulted in a devastating 28 deaths. This remains a tragic and controversial event in Jacarezinho’s history. It highlights the ongoing tension between the community and law enforcement. The story of Jacarezinho is a story of resilience. It’s a story of survival against the odds. It’s a story of a community fighting for its place in Rio de Janeiro.