How do we know that some people of Africa descent were not slaves in Spain's American colonies?

Answer 1

Historical records indicate that some individuals of African descent in Spain's American colonies were not enslaved due to various circumstances. Many were free Africans or descendants of free Africans who had migrated or settled in these regions prior to the establishment of slavery. Additionally, some were granted their freedom or were part of mixed-heritage communities. Legal documents, such as manumission records and contracts, provide evidence of free individuals of African descent in colonial societies.