Premium
As Historical Subjects: The African Diaspora in Colonial Latin American History[Note 1. I thank Ann M. Kakaliouras, Frank ‘Trey’ Proctor, and ...]
Author(s) -
O'Toole Rachel Sarah
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
history compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.121
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 1478-0542
DOI - 10.1111/hic3.12120
Subject(s) - contest , historiography , african descent , colonialism , diaspora , latin americans , agency (philosophy) , subject (documents) , gender studies , history , sociology , anthropology , genealogy , political science , law , social science , archaeology , library science , computer science
This article celebrates and explores the current historiography on colonial Afro‐Latin Americans in the Spanish Americas to illuminate how scholars can continue to develop their methodological approaches to recuperating enslaved and free agency. Drawing on Michel‐Rolph Trouillot's distinction between historical actors and purposeful subjects, the essay suggests that even within slavery, men and women of African descent were able to contest slaveholding, develop their own standards within racial hierarchies, claim subject positions as Catholics, and lay claim to freedom. By asking questions regarding African‐descent defined objectives, scholars have begun to allow Africans and their descendants to articulate interior selves.