Economic labor demand overrode colonial fears of Black rebellion in the Caribbean.

Evidence

Ferdinand, who at some point became convinced that “one black could do the work of four Indians,” informed Ovando that the threat of Black rebellion was offset by the need of Black labor in the mines and plantations. From 1505 until 1522, ladino slaves increasingly replaced the native work force as the latter was decimated by the discipline of the encomienda, disease, and demoralization. In the latter year, the policy prohibiting the import of ladinos was reinstituted. That policy was reiterated in 1530, 1532, 1543, 1550, and in the various assientos granted between 1595 and 1609. Henceforth, only bozales—Africans obtained in Africa—were to be eligible for transport to the New World. — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 638

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the ladino/bozale distinction in African slavery.
• QUESTION: Why exactly were bozales preferred over Hispanicized ladinos? Robinson promises to investigate shortly.