Black ladino

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For other uses of "Ladino" see the disambiguation at Ladino

Black Ladinos were Spanish-speaking black Africans born in Latin America, or exiled to the Americas after spending time in Castile or Portugal. They were often referred to as negros ladinos ("cultivated" or "latinized Blacks"), as opposed to negros bozales (i.e., those captured in Africa).

Between 1502 and 1518, Spain exiled hundreds of black slaves who had spent time in Castille or Portugal and had been Christianized and learned to speak Spanish, primarily to work as miners. Opponents of their enslavement cited their Christian faith and their repeated attempts of escape to the mountains or to join the Native Americans in revolt. Proponents declared that the rapid diminution of the Native American population required a consistent supply of reliable low-cost workers. Free Spaniards were reluctant to do manual labor or to remain settled (especially after the discovery of gold on the mainland), and only slave labor assured the economic viability of the colonies.