SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This article discusses a little known branch of the African Diaspora: Afro-Mexicans, who make up the chronological third “root” of modern Mexico, after the indigenous Mexican and Spanish European. Documented presence of Africans in Mexico goes back to start of the colony of New Spain, as Mexico was then called, in mid-16th century. It is argued that the planting of an African root in Mexico is best understood as part of the transnational capitalism related to mining and sugar industry – slavery, and indentured labour for the building roads and railways of 19th century Mexico. The paper argues that the little recognition given to Afro-Mexicans within their own nation state today is partly a result of the official doctrine of mestizaje developed in the early 20th century which belies its founding in official racism of the colony introduced by influential intellectuals of Mexico.