For more than 13 years, Ron Wilkins has been in the forefront of those promoting the study of Mexico's African legacy. His skills as a photographer have complemented his role as a scholar doing work, in concert with others in the field, on behalf of Black Mexico. The term Black Mexico refers to villages and towns with significant African populations in Mexico's southern Pacific coast region, in the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero; but also includes similar settlements in the Veracruz-Gulf coast region, and Africans at large, throughout Mexico. "Journey to Black Mexico" presents images of Mexico's "Third Root" or its Black slave descendants, who, mixed with Indigenous and Spanish forbears, constitute the Mexicans of today. From 1521 to 1821, an estimated 250,000-500,000 Africans were brought into "New Spain" as Mexico was then called, to work in the sugar plantations, mines and other areas.
Unfortunately, 'El Mestizaje", the widely-accepted notion of "Mexican national identity", favors the mestizo, or European-Indigenous mixture, and leaves out Mexico's African population and their contributions. Mexico's "racial amnesia" and Eurocentric misconceptions persist, despite studies which show that by 1810, there were actually more Africans in "New Spain" than there were Spaniards.
Although Africans have been rendered invisible, are among the most impoverished and are excluded from the national discourse, they have influenced Mexican history and culture in profound ways. In the state of Veracruz there is an imposing statue which pays homage to the African liberator Yanga. A photo of the statue, taken by the artist in 1995, is featured in this exhibit. It shows the awesome 25-foot statue bearing Yanga's likeness, wielding a machete in one hand and a broken chain manacled to his opposite wrist, standing in the town that has since been renamed for him. According to history, Yanga escaped from enslavement and led, in the face of formidable odds, a legendary military campaign for 38 years against former Spanish captors. On January 6, 1609, Yanga established San Lorenzo de los Negros, one of the earliest "free pueblos" of formerly enslaved Africans in the Western hemisphere. Two hundred years later, Black officers and soldiers were major contributors to battlefield victories against Spain during the 1810-1821 war for independence. Black fighters also served with General Emiliano Zapata during the Mexican Revolution.
Annually, colorful parades and less colorful politicians in various United States cities mark the anniversary of Mexico's September 16th independence from Spain. One can expect that relatively few Black faces will be visible among the crowds and probably none will be invited to podiums to recall how Africans, commanded by Black generals with names like Morelos, Guerrero and del Carmen, shed their blood to secure Mexico's freedom. Historically inaccurate celebrations, racially-biased and grossly deficient in important detail are quite common in this country.
In a related vein, it is important to note that the 1850's were a time when many courageous Mexicans helped thousands of enslaved Africans escape across the South Texas border to freedom in Mexico. Who is teaching students that Black people too, were the beneficiaries of Mexico's defeat of invading French forces at Puebla, Mexico in 1862? How many are aware that France's dependency on slave-produced cotton caused her to side with the Confederacy during the U.S. Civil War? Imagine Black and Mexican youth embracing one another and celebrating Cinco de Mayo together! Uncovering this history is important, because in more areas of the United States, competition, tension and violence between predominantly Mexican/Latino peoples and their Black counterparts, is an increasing problem. The antagonists in both camps, lack an understanding of their commonly shared history of joint-resistance to domination, oppression and enslavement. Antagonists on each side have not paused to consider the very real possibility of shared ancestors, and fail to realize that a brighter future can be theirs in less time and with less human suffering, were they to link up with those who, during the worst of times, were their most reliable allies.
During many visits to Black Mexico, Ron Wilkins has been moved by the harmonious relations that exists between Indigenous and African neighbors in the villages. Strengthening relations between the same two groups in the U.S., who are plagued by nearly identical social ills and stand much to gain from united efforts, is a high priority task. As a conscious artist, he accepts fully his responsibility for familiarizing others with Mexico's most marginalized and invisible population group, insuring that Black Mexico is not forgotten and that we learn from each other