race in colonial latin america. question to consider how was race constructed during the colonial...

Race in Colonial Latin America

Question to Consider

How was race constructed during the Colonial period?

The Peopling of Latin America

Heterogeneous IndianEuropeanAfricanAsian

Racial Mixing

High Degree of Racial MixingCastas25% by 18th Century

Blurring of Racial GroupsPhysical Characteristics“One Drop Rule”

“Passing”

Basic Castas

Mestizo (Indian & European) Mulatto (African & European) Zambo (Indian & African)

Mexico in 1793

8,000 Europeans700,00 Criollos

6,000 Blacks360,000 Mulatos

2,300,000 Indians1,000,000 Acculturated

100,000 Asians

Restrictions

Not allowed to live in Indian neighborhoods

Denied posts Sumptuary Legislation

(cloths & jewelry)

Breakdown of Racial Barriers

Less residential segregation Intermarriage Occupation/Education more important

than race Certificate of Whiteness

Conclusions

Racial Ambiguity High Degree of Mobility Money & Education

Example of rich Mestizos and Mulatos Loss of Control (Spanish Authorities)

18th Century Casta Paintings

NPR: “Inventing Race Through Art” http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3043790

Questions to Consider

What do the images reveal about attitudes toward racial mixing and the different castas?

How would you compare the attitudes expressed in the primary documents versus those depicted in the casta paintings?

Spaniard and an Indian Produces a Mestizo

Spaniard and a Mestizo Produces Castiza

Spaniard and a Castiza Produces a Spaniard

Mestizo and an Indian Produces a Coyote

An African and a Spaniard Produces a Mulatto

A Mulatto and a Spaniard Produces a Marisco

A Spaniard and a Marisca Produces a Albino

A Spaniard and an Albina Produces a Black- Return-Backwards

A Black and an Indian Produces a Wolf

A Black and an Indian Produces a Zambaiga

A Zambaiga and an Indian Produces an Albarazado

An Indian and an Albaradazdo Produces a Chamizo

A Chamizo and an Indian Produces a Cambuja

An Albarrado and an Indian Produces a Cachimboreta

An Indian and a Cambuja Produces a Wolf-Return-Backwards

A Wolf-Return-Backwards and an Indian Produces a Hold-Yourself-in-Mid-Air

18th Century Casta Paintings

Reaffirmed the Importance of Racial Heritage

Subcategories of Castas Details of Everyday Life People at Various Social Levels Material Culture

Conclusions

Spaniards preside over society Spaniards possessors of culture Ambiguity/Inconsistency in racial markers More racial mixing, status declines Spanish blood redeemable, black not Underscore colony’s wealth

Post-Independence

Lessening of Racial Barriers Indigenous Peoples Increasingly

“Celebrated”EuropeanizedRomanticized

Casta Designations BannedEquality Before the Law