Afro-Peruvian citizenship: An unfulfilled promise after 200 years of republican independence

By 1821, Peru had enslaved 100,000 Africans mainly to work in the coastal haciendas in Peru. By the end of the colonization period in Peru, the capital city of Lima was mainly inhabited by criollos (population of direct Spanish heritage born in the Americas), mestizos, and Blacks, while a robust indigenous population inhabited the highlands of the country. Yet, during the forming of the national identity, the Black population was excluded. The authors argue that even after 200 years of republican independence, the promise of full Black citizenship is still unfulfilled. The chapter explores the social and political situation of Afrodescendants historically and explains how the national dynamics of racism have influenced this process and how it continues to affect Afroperuvians.