zambo

people

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July 15, 2026

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The term "Zambo" refers to a person of mixed Indigenous and African ancestry in Latin America. This classification emerged during the colonial era as a result of the genetic and cultural mixing between Europeans, enslaved Africans, and Indigenous peoples. While the term "mulatto" historically denoted individuals of mixed white and Black ancestry, "Zambo" specifically identifies those with African and Indigenous heritage. The social significance and application of such racial classifications have varied across different cultures and regions.12

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race
The colonial period
…time went on, as with zambo (Black-Indigenous mix) and pardo (literally, “brown person,” commonly used to denote a person of African and European descent). Spanish colonists attempted to systematize a hierarchy of socio-racial classes, known as a sociedad de castas (“society of castes, or breeds”). Portuguese colonists were less pedantic…
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…time went on, as with zambo (Black-Indigenous mix) and pardo (literally, “brown person,” commonly used to denote a person of African and European descent). Spanish colonists attempted to systematize a hierarchy of socio-racial classes, known as a sociedad de castas (“society of castes, or breeds”). Portuguese colonists were less pedantic…
Read More