In the piece that preceded this one titled “Black and Brown Unity Through the Lens of the Mexican Revolution”, I provided photographic evidence of the solidarity of Black Mexicans with their Brown compatriots during that tumultuous period. I was careful to note that although AfroMexican contributions on those battlefields are to be appreciated, that Black participation one hundred years earlier during Mexico’s war of independence against Spain was not only greater, but in fact pivotal. As before, I provide evidence to support my assertions that both General Jose Morelos and General Vicente Ramon Guerrero, who were major leaders of the war effort, were of African ancestry. The 19^th century time frame and Mexican origin of the rare paintings accompanying this piece clearly show the racial characteristics of both men.

Those seriously interested in historical truths must know that after issuing and leading the call in 1810 for Mexico’s people to rise up and end Spanish domination, the revolutionary priest Father Hidalgo waged struggle for about nine months on the battlefield.  After Hidalgo’s capture and execution it was another revolutionary priest Jose Morelos who organized and commanded the main Mexican forces against their Spanish adversaries for the next five years. It was Morelos who defined the struggle more clearly than had his predecessor, as one to end the caste system and slavery, and not just a war to end Spanish rule. It was the promise to end slavery coupled with the securing of independence that caused many AfroMexicans to support the war effort. Under Morelos most of the fighters were described as “Negro” or “Mulatto”, they fought under a black flag and were often referred to as “Erjercito Moreno” or “Dark Army. It was General Morelos who led Mexican forces during the “Siege of Cuatla” in what has been described as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the 11 year war. At Cuatla, Morelos was assisted by Vicente Ramon Guerrero in a battle which pitted about 3,000 Mexican troops against over 20,000 Spanish soldiers, who occupied the high ground and had cannon to augment their firepower. After 58 or 72 days, the accounts vary, the Mexican forces were able to break through the siege and declare victory.

One must also know that most of the war was fought in the “Tierra Caliente” or hot lowlands, measuring about 50 miles wide by 150 miles long on both the Pacific and Gulf sides of the country. Although these areas were sparsely populated, the group with the greatest concentration in terms of numbers were AfroMexicans who provided solid support to the war effort. It has been said that support from the “arch of black villages” was so impenetrable that Spanish forces from their bases in Veracruz were prevented for five years straight from getting a runner through to Mexico City. Then there is the famous story of the “Spanish Militia Unit” captured near Acapulco in the southern Pacific coast region by the forces of General Morelos. Morelos sat the men down and began to lecture them on the value of freedom. He did so because oddly enough the “Spanish Militia” was comprised of black men. As Morelos spoke some of the men grumbled and turned away. An angry General Morelos stepped over to his horse nearby, retrieved a branding iron and waved it in the faces of the men as he continued. Still waving the branding iron in their faces Morelos said “would you rather return to this, or will you switch sides and join our forces”? Staring right at the branding iron the men said “we will join with you”.

You must also know of Captain Jose Andreas Carranza, a legendary black combatant on the Mexican side. It was Captain Carranza’s behavior prior to battle that distinguished him by causing him to become a hate object for the Spanish side. Just before many of the battles this very black Mexican captain would position himself at the front of the Mexican lines and shout insults at the Spaniards. After cursing them, talking about their mama’s and calling them names, Carranza, dodging bullets, would zigzag quickly to the rear of the Mexican lines and the battle would get underway. Carranza, by the way, was also at Cuatla. Similarly, there are accounts of extraordinary feats such as those carried out by the artillery expert known as “Negro Habanero”, and the colorful story of how the largest cannons were delivered to the Mexican side after a daring raid from Tepic to San Blas, conducted by the black revolutionary priest Jose Mercado and his men.

By 1820, one year before independence was attained “only the most determined fighters remained in the field”. General Vicente Ramon Guerrero commanded the last army of size, as Morelos had long since been killed and others were either dead, captured or had accepted pardons. It is Guerrero who is remembered as “The Consummator of Independence” or “The One Who Dealt the Final Blow”. It was Guerrero who in 1829 issued the decree prohibiting slavery in all of the Mexican Republic and became the nation’s second president. His enemies, from outside and within Mexico, eventually imprisoned him and had him executed 14 February 1831. If Black and Brown youth were made aware of his greatness and dual heritage as both a Mexican and an African, they/we would invoke his memory and lift him up for praise on 14 February, rather than celebrate a St. Valentine that springs from an Italian culture that is not ours. By so doing, our youth would be building on Brown Black solidarity that is centuries old and is as important and urgent now as it was then. There’s more to come so hold onto your seat.

For a comprehensive account of the enormous and pivotal role played by AfroMexicans in Mexico’s struggle for independence I would urge everyone to read “The Legacy of Vicente Guerrero: Mexico’s First Black Indian President”, by the late Ted Vincent.