The Afro-Mexican Story
Discovering an Invisible History
When I first started researching Afro-Mexicans in the early 1990s, the question I heard most frequently—both from Mexicans and Americans—was, “Wait… there are Black people in Mexico?” The surprise and confusion expressed in that question inspired me to dig deeper, revealing a long but overlooked history shaped by centuries of erasure and rediscovery.
Mexico’s national identity has long been framed by mestizaje—the idea of racial and cultural blending primarily between Spanish and Indigenous peoples. However, this ideology left little room for acknowledging the African heritage that has significantly contributed to Mexico’s social and cultural fabric.
Historical Background
The first Africans arrived in Mexico in the early 1500s alongside Spanish conquistadors. Soon thereafter, enslaved Africans were brought to New Spain in large numbers, primarily to labor in mines, plantations, and cattle ranches. These populations eventually established distinct communities along Mexico’s Pacific coast, especially in the region known as the Costa Chica, spanning Guerrero and Oaxaca.
Despite their integral contributions to Mexico’s early economy and culture, Afro-Mexicans gradually became invisible within national narratives. After Mexico’s independence in 1821, official racial categories were removed, and with them, the visibility of Afro-descendant populations declined sharply.
Costa Chica: A Unique Afro-Mexican Region
My research has largely focused on the Costa Chica region, stretching along the Pacific coastline from Guerrero to Oaxaca. Unlike regions associated with large-scale plantation economies, Costa Chica’s Afro-Mexican communities developed in relative isolation, allowing them to maintain distinct cultural practices, such as music, dance, oral histories, and agricultural traditions.
However, since the late 20th century, increased transportation and economic migration have brought significant demographic and cultural changes to the region, influencing how residents understand and express their identities.
Racial Identity: Mexico and Beyond
One of the most intriguing aspects of Afro-Mexican identity is how context shapes people’s perceptions of race. In Mexico, Afro-Mexicans often negotiate a complex identity shaped by local racial categories such as “moreno,” “prieto,” or “Costeño.” In contrast, my ethnographic research in the U.S. South—especially in places like Winston-Salem, North Carolina—has revealed a different experience. Here, Afro-Mexicans find themselves identified primarily as Hispanic or Latino, encountering a racial landscape already defined by African Americans.
This shift often makes Afro-Mexican migrants doubly invisible—unrecognized as Black by the local African American community and not seen as authentically Mexican by other Latino migrants. These experiences highlight how racial categories are fluid and context-dependent.
Activism and Recognition
Since the late 1990s, Afro-Mexican activists have fought tirelessly for visibility and official recognition. Grassroots organizations such as México Negro have worked to increase awareness of Afro-Mexican issues, gaining official recognition for Afro-descendants in the national census for the first time in 2020. My research has documented these efforts, highlighting both successes and ongoing challenges faced by Afro-Mexican activists.
The story of Afro-Mexicans continues to evolve, shaped by activism, migration, and global conversations about race and identity. My hope is that this site serves as a resource to better understand and appreciate this vibrant community’s historical legacy and contemporary realities.