Impact of Slavery on Social Relationships in Colonial Latin America

Sociology
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What impact did the system of slavery have on social relationships in colonial Latin
America?
Introduction
Slavery is said to be a system which involves the application of principles of property law by
allowing an individual to possess, buy and sell other people. In this system, the slaves are unable
to withdraw from the arrangements and they offer services without remuneration.1 Briefly, the
slaves are denied basic human rights.
Atlantic slave trade or transatlantic slave trade involved the slave traders' transportation of the
enslaved African individuals to Latin America. During the Atlantic slave trade, Latin America
acted as the major destination for the African slaves exported from Africa. The slaves were sold
to provide labor in the American plantation owners.
Discussion
The slavery system widely affected the social relationship in Latin America in both negative and
positive perspectives. Positive impacts enhanced cohesion in the region while negative impacts
led to the destruction of the relationship between the local people and the slaves.
The social relationship can be said to be a major factor that defines the economic and political
relationship in a defined region.2 For example, when a healthy social relationship coexist among
1 Bennett. "Writing into a VoidREPRESENTING SLAVERY AND FREEDOM IN THE NARRATIVE OF
COLONIAL SPANISH AMERICA,79.
2 Escobar. Culture, economics, and politics in Latin American social movements theory and research, 62-
86).

individuals, both economic and political backgrounds experiences a positive growth. When
social relationships are negatively influenced, the economic and political sectors experience
negative growth.
Inter-marriages between the locals and the slaves is one of positive impact that was resulted by
slavery system. Some decades after slavery, the slaves ended up marrying local people which
enhanced their lively hood and eroded the animosity that the slaves were exposed to. 3This
positive impact took decades before it was noticed. Initially no slave was allowed to marry the
whites as they faced discrimination and racism.
Another positive impact is the Culture exchange. The colonial Latin American individuals had
different cultural background compared to the slaves. Through intermarriages, the new cultural
background grew which compromised the American culture and African culture.4 Such an
impact led to positive growth in a social relationship at the colonial Latin American. Cultural
exchange was noticed soon after the local and the slaves were allowed to inter-marry.
Food security growth describes another positive effect that was noticed in Latin America. The
slaves were bought for the provision of cheap labor in the American farms. Cheap labor
proportionally led to an improvement in food production which enhanced food security in the
region. Such a social impact contributed to the positive growth of relationship in Latin American.
3 Glenn, Evelyn Nakano. "Settler colonialism as structure: A framework for comparative studies of US
race and gender formation." ,7252.
4 Grosfoguel. "Decolonizing post-colonial studies and paradigms of political-economy: Transmodernity,
decolonial thinking, and global coloniality,67.