“Image Ownership: Public Domain” Juan García was one of the best known black auxiliaries aiding Francisco Pizarro in the conquest of Peru between 1532 and 1542. He was born free near Jaraicejo, Spain in 1495, most likely of African and Spanish descent, although he was … Read MoreJuan Garcia (1495?- ? )
Map of Yucatan “Image Ownership: Public Domain” Sebastián Toral was one of the earliest black conquistadores in the New World. He helped the Spanish to conquer the southern Mexican state of Yucatán in the 1530s and 1540s. Although historians do not know much information about … Read MoreSebastián Toral (? — ?)
Benedetto Manasseri, an Italian of African descent, was born near Messina, Italy to Cristoforo and Diana Manasseri in 1526. His parents, captured as slaves from Africa in the early 16th century, were brought to San Fratello, near Messina. They converted to Catholicism and, due to … Read MoreSt. Benedict the Moor (1526-1589)
Juan Valiente, a Spanish-speaking black conquistador, was born in Northwest Africa around 1505 and was enslaved and acquired by the Portuguese. He was eventually purchased by Alonso Valiente, who had become a wealthy resident of Mexico City and Puebla after his participation in the conquest … Read MoreJuan Valiente (ca. 1505-1553)
The Chota Valley is located in Ecuador, spanning the provinces of Carchi, Esmeraldas, and Imbabura in the Northwest corner of the country along the border with Colombia. The Valley has ten to fifteen villages with a total population of less than fifteen thousand. Due to … Read MoreThe Chota Valley, Ecuador (1533- )
Mururata is a large village located in the tropical valleys of the Yungas region of Bolivia. Although the population of the village is small when compared to neighboring cities, the people who reside there are overwhelmingly of African descent. Mururata is less than 150 miles … Read MoreMururata, Bolivia (ca. 1851- )
Quibdo is the capital of the Department of Choco in Colombia. In 2008 the city had a population of 109,000 people. The population of the Choco region is overwhelmingly Afro-Colombian due to the history of slavery in the area. The city is somewhat isolated and … Read MoreQuibdo, Colombia (1648- )
Porto-Novo, meaning “New Port” in Portuguese, became the official capital of the West African country of Benin in 1960. In 2002 it had an estimated population of 223,552 people. Porto-Novo is located in the southeastern part of the country on an inlet of the Gulf … Read MorePorto-Novo, Benin (16th Century- )
William Loren Katz has devoted his life to researching and writing African American history. In the following account written to describe the reissue of one of his most successful books, Black Indians, he describes how he became an historian of African America and particularly the … Read MoreBlack Indians: A Personal and Historic Journey
Malik Ambar was among the tens of thousands of men, women, and children captured in Africa and sold into slavery in the Middle East and India over nearly nine centuries. His story is also an indication of the ability of some in the predominantly Muslim … Read MoreMalik Ambar (1548 -1627)
