What was the relationship between race and slavery in Latin america and the Caribbean?

Question

What was the relationship between race and slavery in Latin america and the Caribbean?

Answer 1

The slaves were black, slaveowners were white.

Answer 2

People of either African ancestry (black) or Native American ancestry were lawfully slaves for life and property to their masters.

White people ie of European ancestry were exempt from being slaves and were most often the masters but any race or ethnicity could become a master the black and Native Americans would of had to of bought their freedom before hand though. But simply white people were never the enslaved.

Answer 3

Many historians who study conceptions of race and/or slavery have pointed out that conceptions of race and inferiority, based on color of skin, only developed after slavery began to take off as profitable, and necessary to develop the colonies.  Thus, understandings of race and racial inferiority developed as justification to slavery. Furthermore, historians have argued that Africans (blacks) became more wanted as slaves, especially on plantations, instead of indigenous peoples or Irish  for a variety of reasons including:  familiarity with modes of farming used in tropical climates, the fact that Africans would be in unknown territory which it was felt would hinder their escape, and also their skin color would prevent them from escaping easily as they wouldn't be able to blend into the free population.

   Barbadoes in the seventeenth and early eighteenth century really highlights this.  Refer to the article by Hilary Beckles "A 'riotous and unruly lot'..."  also refer to Winthrop Jordan's White Over Black (American context but still very relevant I think).   There is quite a bit of historical scholarship on this question, its just finding it that is sometimes difficult if you don't know where to look.  Hope this helps.