Pata Seca: The Story of Roque JosĂ© FlorĂȘncio and the Legacy of Slavery in Brazil
In nineteenth-century Brazil, a man named Roque José Florêncio became known by the nickname Pata Seca, commonly translated as “Dry Leg.” According to accounts passed down through generations, he was exceptionally tall, reaching approximately 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 meters). But his physical appearance was only one part of a much more complicated story. His…