Ladinos - Definition and Overview

For the article on the Judaeo-Spanish language see Ladino.

Ladinos, during the Spanish colonial era, were Spanish-speaking black African slaves born in Latin America, or sent to the Americas after having spent some time in Castille or Portugal. They were referred to as negros ladinos (latinate or cultivated Blacks) as opposed to negros bozales (captured in Africa).

Between 1502 and 1518 Spain shipped out hundreds of black slaves - who had spent time in Castille or Portugal and had been Christianized and learned Spanish - to do the manual labour, especially in the mines. Opponents of their enslavement cited their weak Christian faith and their penchant for escaping to the mountains or joining the Native Americans in revolt. Proponents declared that the rapid diminution of the Native American population required a consistent supply of reliable work hands. Free Spaniards were reluctant to do manual labor or to remain settled (especially after the discovery of gold on the mainland), and only slave labor could assure the economic viability of the colonies.

In Guatemala, Ladino is a collective noun used to refer to the Mestizo population together with the Amerindians assimilated into Hispanic culture.

External link

• La procedencia de los esclavos negros en Sevilla (http://www.personal.us.es/alporu/histsevilla/esclavos_procedencia.htm), "The procedence of black slaves in Seville".