Race and Colorism as Cultural Constructions

“What was made by history can be unmade by history; what is affirmed by

language can also be negated by language.”—p. 233

Racial Categories in the US

Race in Latin America:Legacy of Colonialism

• Ruler/ruled• Spanish conquered Meso-American civilizations in 16th

century; brought disease which devastated indigenous populations

• 1 million indigenous people died in 50 years after conquest• “Encomiendas”: indigenous communities enslaved to work

on large plantations and in the mines and had no political or legal rights

• Indigenous communities baptized into Christianity• Intermarriage over hundreds of years

“Las castas”: 16 racial classifications or castes in 18th century Spanish America

Color categories in Nicaragua

• Note: not based on descent or kinship

People can change color when they migrate or change context

• p. 231

Impact of “color” on distribution of resources

Were racial categories disrupted by the Sandinista Revolution?