Africans in Spanish-America: Slavery, Freedom and Identities in the Colonial Era

Abstract

Africans contributed to the development of Spanish American societies in multiple ways. The specific workings of the slave trade and slav­ery determined great part of their living conditions but slaves used every pos­sible way to gain some autonomy over their lives. Thus, the article explores slavery as a social relation of constant negotiation over Africans’ lives. Spe­cial emphasis is given on the discussion of slaves’ identities and the question of surviving African culture in America.