The Legacy of African Slavery in Colonial Mexico, 1519-1810.

This study surveys the experiences and contributions of Africans from 1519 to 1810 in Mexican history. The Spaniards brought Africans into a society that deemed them weak, hedonistic, subservient, and fit only for bondage. Without knowledge of Mexico's African legacy, a full understanding of modern Mexico is incomplete. This study also demonstrates that African-Mexicans played an active role in the evolution of colonial Mexico despite suffering the brunt of Spain's oppressive color consciousness. The first African slaves in Mexico accompanied their masters to New Spain during the early sixteenth century Hispanic invasion. During the Spanish invasion of Mexico, Africans served generally as personal attendants burden bearers, and laborers. Their slave status obscured contributions made against indigenous resistance and the elaboration of a new order because their masters usually ignored slave accomplishments. African slavery accelerated once the religious orders became concerned about the rapid decline of the indigenous population. Disease and the rigors of the Spanish labor systems demolished the Indians.