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Bias In Latin American History

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our focal point in comparing historians and methodologies. We must pose the question of whether or not all Latin American historians are posing this bias in their narratives, or have modern Latin American historians taken to new methodologies. Evidence can show us that there is often much bias in early historical narratives about race especially in colonial Latin America. A common issue with race even when used as a historical to organize data, it is also a subject that can fall to extreme bias. Race is and always has been a very sensitive issue, and historians are no strangers to that. However, in a historiographical perspective we have to pose questions and see whether there are any common trends among historical narratives. Not only that …show more content…

History of the Caribbean has always largely in part been taught hand in hand with Latin American history as there are common links from colonial times. This historian in the end of the 18th century used basic sourced like literature to paint one of the most extensive stereotypes of the Africans. “Flat noses, thick lips, wool ‘like the bestial fleece’ instead of hair, the large breast of women, their bestial and fetid smells.” This is relevant to race in Latin America as longs interpretations had to do in specifics with race that tie in to interpretations of the black race in Latin America. This biased interpretation in turn affected other white historians. Long had a specific interpretations for the black race in the Caribbean as he said “the same bestial manners, stupidity, and vices, which debase their brethren on the continent, who seem to be distinguished from the rest of mankind.” And although there had not been many sources for historians in that time to interpret anything about Indians, there had been many encounters with black people. This is especially important to know when considering historical narratives about race in colonial and post-colonial Latin America. So again it is important to know that there is already a pre-conceived understanding of the black race before Africans made their way to Latin America as slaves. The black race in Latin America were not the only ones to face the dilemma of bias, as the blending of people from various races such as white, indigenous, or black caused mixed race. This completely changed the typical white/black dichotomy as there was a new source of data and concept for historians to look at and refer to. One that plays a very important role as

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