Behind the Bastards Part Two: That Time Volkswagen Operated a Slave Plantation in Brazil
19 snips
Oct 16, 2025 Maggie, a writer and video essayist, dives into the dark history of Volkswagen’s slave plantation in Brazil. She discusses the shocking support from VW executives for Brazil’s military dictatorship, revealing a culture of labor exploitation and violence. The conversation highlights how heroic actions from teen soccer players and Father Ricardo Resende exposed the grim realities faced by workers. They also reflect on the lingering accountability issues and the moral implications for consumers, urging listeners to reconsider their support of the brand.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Corporations Prefer Authoritarian Stability
- Volkswagen executives welcomed Brazil's military dictatorship because it prioritized corporate profit over worker rights.
- That alignment enabled widespread abuses like torture and environmental destruction under state protection.
Life On VW's Amazon Ranch
- Volkswagen ran a ranch in Brazil where contracted workers lived in brutal conditions and were treated as disposable labor.
- Survivors described being worked to death, denied medical care, and sometimes strung up as punishment.
A Priest Blew The Whistle
- Father Ricardo Resende, a liberation-theology priest, investigated slavery claims starting in 1977 and persistently gathered witness accounts.
- His faith-based oversight was one of the few protections available under the junta.