Bobby Vaughn's

The Black Mexico Homepage

Afro-Mexicans of the Costa Chica

The purpose of this website is to introduce readers to the culture and unique experience of Mexicans of African descent. If you are like most people, you probably have never heard of Afro-Mexicans and are completely unaware that they exist. If you fall into this category, this page will hopefully be quite a learning experience for you. As a cultural anthropologist, I am interested in how issues of race, color, and nationalism make the Afro-Mexican experience what it is, today, and hopefully, I can come to some general conclusions as to larger issues of race and ethnicity. Perhaps the question most central to my thinking about the topic could be expressed succinctly as: "How do black people in Mexico understand and live their black identity?" This question fascinates me primarily because issues of blackness and race are rarely talked about in Mexico, and the black population is extremely small there.

However, over and above my research interests, the people of Mexico have treated me with such kindness, respect, and genuine affection over the last 10 years, that I carry with me a genuine joy to be doing what I am doing. I endeavor to present the story of Afro-Mexicans in the most respectful way I know how. I therefore refuse to exoticize or caricature the people who have meant so much to me.

The site is designed to be introductory, with a brief historical overview of African slavery in Mexico, a discussion of the Costa Chica region -- which is where most black Mexicans live today --, as well as some photographs I've taken. I hope you enjoy the site and I welcome your comments.

Also, I should add that I am not a specialist in African American genealogy, Black Seminoles, or African Americans in the southwestern United States. Those interested such genealogical issues should click here.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Juana Briones

Please click on the following link and learn about the life of Juana Briones (1802-1889), a California woman of African, Indigenous, and Spanish descent and the grassroots efforts to save the home she built from demolition. I encourage you to support the cause.

The Juana Briones Heritage Foundation