The story of Pat Seki - a disenfranchised slave who had his own harem

The black slave Pata Seca, who lived in 19th century Brazil, was used as a “breeding bull” by his master. According to the most conservative estimates, he fathered 200 children from different women. In total, his descendants inherited the status of a slave, because their very birth was nothing more than a planned increase in the number of labor on the plantations.

Early in 1808, an event occurred that threatened the well-being of thousands of New World planters and farmers. Britain banned the slave trade, and the flow of slaves from the colonies decreased dramatically. This event coincided with increased production of cotton, sugar cane, and rice in the United States and South America.

The high mortality rate among slaves required constant replenishment of their ranks. But the sea route from Africa across the Atlantic was controlled by the British, who mercilessly dealt with slave traders. This led to the fact that planters began to solve the problem “locally”, increasing the birth rate among their slaves.

Work on the plantations was very hard and required great physical strength and endurance from the slaves. Therefore, slave owners began to highly value tall and strong men. They believed, not without reason, that they would pass on their qualities to their descendants and that healthy and strong children would be born from them.

Pata Seca, whose real name was Roque José Florencio, had all the qualities of an ideal slave. He was distinguished by his enormous height of 218 cm and thin legs. It was this type of physique that was considered optimal for a “producer” in Brazil. The man was bought at the slave market precisely as an inseminator and brought to a plantation near Sao Paulo.

It should be said right away that Pata Seka never did hard work. He also did not go hungry or experience any other hardships. Moreover, he had an excellent relationship with owner Francisco Dacun Jabueno. Pata performed simple tasks around the house, looked after his master's horses and was responsible for delivering mail. He lived separately from other slaves and wore clean and high-quality clothes.

Despite all the privileges, Pata Seka remained a slave, the property of his master. He was entrusted with the humiliating duty of impregnating slaves whom the owner would indicate. And a special slave diligently performed this duty. Today it is difficult to say whether Pata Seke liked his work or caused him moral suffering. What is known is that 200 children were born from him, joining the ranks of slaves on the plantations.

It is likely that the man suffered. His offspring did not inherit any special status and became common consumables on the plantations. They were tortured and even killed with impunity, because a slave was not considered a full-fledged person. Pat Seki's children grew up and also became parents. Already in the 21st century, genetic research was conducted that showed an amazing thing. It turned out that 30 percent of the population of the Santa Eudoxia-Sal Carlos district are descendants of Seca.

Pata Seca lived to see the abolition of slavery in Brazil, which did not occur until 1888. He was not yet old at all and quite strong when he received his freedom. From his former owner, the man received a plot of land on which he built a house. Pata even married a woman named Palmyra and became the father of 9 children. The former “inseminator” spent the rest of his days working on his piece of land, raising the young, already free generation to their feet.