17341: Gillespie: RE: 17237: Saint-Vil Re: 17213:

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "Gillespie, Richard" <rgillespie@towson.edu>


I think it little matters what date one chooses to mark the arrival of
black
slaves in the Western Hemisphere. The recognition itself is more important
than
the date. There are however, a number of dates to choose from. The Heimls
in
WRITTEN IN BLOOD suggest several. They note that Columbus may have brought
slaves with him because Ovando in 1502 notes their presence in Hispaniola.
And
Juan Manuel de Ayala notes that by 1503 the black slaves were not only
numerous
but some had already fled to the mountains in what later became known as
marronage.

On the other hand, a date to remember might be 1510 because that was the
year
King Ferdinand authorized the first "official" shipment of African slaves
to
the island.

C. Richard Gillespie