Mexico formerly part of the Mayan Empire steeped in culture and history which consist of the largest Spanish speaking populace in the world, unfortunately ranks number two amongst the post slavery nations to do a disturbingly excellent job of erasing the black presence in their country.  Like many former Spanish colonies, Mexico focused on the indigenous and European influence negated race and fixated on national identity.  It was not until 2015 Mexico began to account for the Afro-Mexican population in the preliminary census, today 1.38 million people that consist of 1.2% of Mexico’s population identifies as black.  A full census accounting for all ethnicities will be included in 2020 to get a more accurate depiction of Mexico’s diverse population.

As in the rest of the Americas, slavery in Mexico exacted a severe physical and psychological price from its victims.  Abuse was a constant part of a slave’s existence; resisting oppression often meant torture, mutilation, whipping, or being put in confinement.  Death rates were high, especially for slaves in the silver mines and on the sugar plantations.  Yet, for the most part, their spirits were never broken, and many fled to establish settlements (“palenques”) in remote areas of the country.  These fugitives were a constant thorn in the side of slave owners.  The most renowned group of
“maroons,” as they were called, escaped to the mountains near Veracruz.  Unable to defeat these intrepid Africans, the colonist finally recognized their freedom and allowed them to build and administer their own town.  Today their leader, Yanga, remains a symbol of black resistance in Mexico.  

Palmer, C. A. (n.d.). Africa’s Legacy in Mexico. From Migrations in History: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/migrations/legacy/almleg.html

Slavery was abolished in Mexico in 1829 by Afro-Mestizo president Vicente Guerrero one of the generals who fought the Spanish Empire for independence.   His tenure as president was brief, less than a year, when Guerrero was assassinated.  Although having a brief presence, the impact that Guerrero had on Mexico of freeing the slaves as well as one of the generals in the war of independence from Spain however ironic as well.  Today in Mexico there have been incidences when Afro-Mexicans will venture to other regions of the country where they are treated as foreigners.  The erasure of slavery and negating race into the nations psyche created a false narrative to Afro-Mexicans, and with the recent addition of blacks on Mexico’s 2015 preliminary census is a definite step in the right direction.

Data From: http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/mexico-population/