'Black Ladinos' were
Spanish-speaking
black Africans born in
Latin America, or exiled to the
Americas after spending time in
Castile or
Portugal. They were often referred to as ''negros ladinos'' ("cultivated" or "latinized Blacks"), as opposed to ''negros
bozales'' (''i.e.'', those captured in Africa).
Between 1502 and 1518,
Spain exiled hundreds of black slaves who had spent time in Castille or Portugal and had been
Christianized and learned to speak Spanish, primarily to work as miners. Opponents of their enslavement cited their
Christian faith and their repeated attempts of escape to the mountains or to join the
Native Americans in revolt. Proponents declared that the rapid diminution of the Native American population required a consistent supply of reliable low-cost workers. 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 assured the economic viability of the colonies.
External link
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La procedencia de los esclavos negros en Sevilla, "The precedence of black slaves in
Seville".