Black and Mulatto Women in 19th Century Havana Portraits of Disillusionment and Survival

Abstract

The representation of black and mulatto women in colonial Cuba was long overshadowed by their association with enslavement and the stereotypes shaped by the slavery system. However, the growing focus on studies with a racial and gender perspective is helping to create a more accurate representation of the diverse conditions experienced by these Afro-descendant women in the Caribbean during the 19th century. This paper aims, through various case studies, to contribute to this multifaceted portrayal of these women. It highlights cases of women who, through survival strategies, improved their economic status or fought for their rights, while also acknowledging those whose lives were cut short by the colonial system. Ultimately, this article seeks to recover, through archival documents, the life experiences of black and mulatto women in Cuba, a social group that deserves its rightful place in the island’s history.