RACE

Cuba’s population is split primarily between whites, mestizos and Afro‑Cubans (blacks and mulattos), with the percentage of Afro-Cubans varying between 33% and 62%, depending on the source.

During Colonial times, Spain had an extensive hierarchy of race that was used to maintain control and social order and ones category had drastic social and legal consequences. Three main categories were White Spaniard (español), Amerindian (indio), and Black African (negro).

This ended up dividing into many more detailed categories based on where the person was born (Spain, Africa, or on the North American continent). By 1821, there were over 100 sub-categories based on percentages of races. Some examples include mestizo, pardo, mulato and zambo. Official categories recorded in censuses and church records included español, mestizo, castizo, mulato, and indio.

Las castas. Anonymous, 18th century, Museo Nacional del Virreinato, Tepotzotlan, Mexico