The African Settlement of San Mateo de Cangrejos and its Historical and Cultural Influence on Puerto Rican Society

Diego Feliciano

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

In 1493 Christopher Columbus left Spain on his second voyage to the West Indies and arrived on the Caribbean Island of Boriken, populated by the native Tainos. He claimed the land for Spain and renamed the Island San Juan Bautista. In 1508 Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon was named Governor and changed the name to Puerto Rico. Spain realized by the mid-1500’s that workers were needed to develop a strong economy and forts to protect the gold and silver coming from South America headed to Spain. The slave trade was used to populate Puerto Rico. Between 1659-1842, 26,881 African slaves from the region of West Africa, Nigeria were brought to Puerto Rico. The impact of west African slaves over four centuries left a legacy that developed into modern day Afro-Caribbean culture in Puerto Rico, and it began in the free Black colony of Cangrejos, outside the capital of San Juan.

Comments

Studies in History
BLH 362

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