Before Mestizaje: The Frontiers of Race and Caste in Colonial Mexico

This book explores the extreme caste groups of colonial Mexico and their experiences, revealing the connection between mestizaje and the colonial caste system. It highlights the legacy of mestizaje, which is not just about mixture but also about dissecting and reconnecting lives, and suggests that this overlooked history can be built upon in modern times.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 07 December 2017
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This captivating book delves into the intricate tapestry of race in Latin America, unveiling fresh perspectives by examining the remarkable extreme caste groups that thrived in colonial Mexico. Through a meticulous exploration of their experiences, it sheds light on the profound connection between mestizaje, Latin America's modern ideology of racial mixture, and the colonial caste system. Before the advent of mestizaje as a central concept, an earlier precursor existed that demands our attention. This colonial form of racial hybridity, intricately woven within an elastic caste system, granted certain individuals the privilege of navigating multiple racial identities. Consequently, the sweeping fusion of races that shaped Latin America's modernity carries a significant corollary. Mestizaje, when viewed from its core, transcends mere mixture and encompasses the delicate process of dissecting and reconnecting lives. Such profound experiences have endowed certain Latin American populations with a unique ability to transcend racial boundaries, forging connections and understanding diverse racial perspectives. This overlooked, profound history of mestizaje holds the potential to be built upon in the present day, offering valuable insights and lessons for a more inclusive and equitable society.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781107670815