Afro-Mexican Identity Summary

As the Spanish started to settle the colony of New Spain, they needed a large workforce to cater to the ever growing demands of the agricultural environment and general household. The Spanish started to bring Africans to Mexico to fill the labor demand, but in doing so they started to create a new population demographic which would become the majority rather than the minority. Yet, Afro-Mexicans would remain a minority compared to the superior Spanish based on discourses of control and subordination. Africans in Colonial Mexico takes the study of African Diaspora to a new level by examining the creation of the “Afro-Mexican” identity through creolization and community development form those who first came to the colonies to their descendents. Instead of developing an identity through the institution of slavery, Africans built a hybrid identity by incorporating aspects of Spanish culture into their lives. Clear examples, ranging from population demographic to conversions of Christianity, developing communities and cultural shifts demonstrate how Africans worked from within system to create their own identity.
Using the inquisition records as evidence to show creole consciousness among those who are of African descent creates an issue due to the nature of the primary source. The author uses these records to show how the Spanish defined Africans as people of the Christian faith, showing the strength of Catholic mortality. According to Bennett, the records ultimately become a source to show how fast they assimilate into Spanish culture. Yet, using the inquisition records and religion as the main source and theme of the monograph became the books greatest pit