By Vicente Guerrero and the Afro-Mexican Legacy
The Architect of Liberty: Vicente Guerrero and the Afro-Mexican Legacy
​While many recognize Mexico’s fight for independence through the lens of its Spanish descendant elite, the true heartbeat of the revolution belonged to Vicente Guerrero. A man of Afro Indigenous descent, Guerrero did more than lead armies; he fundamentally dismantled the systemic oppression of colonial Mexico.
​Roots in a Hidden History
​Born on August 9, 1783, in Tixtla, Guerrero was the son of Juan Pedro, an Afro Mexican, and Guadalupe Saldaña, an Indigenous woman. His background placed him within a demographic often erased from colonial narratives. By the mid 17th century, Mexico’s African and Afro descendant population exceeded 150,000 a figure that actually outnumbered Spaniards in various regions.
​Despite having no formal schooling, Guerrero possessed a sharp intellect and deep cultural fluency. Working as a mule driver, he mastered the Nahuatl language, building bridges with Indigenous communities that would later form the backbone of his revolutionary forces.
​The Guerilla General
​In 1810, Guerrero joined the independence movement under José MarÃa Morelos. Following Morelos’ execution in 1815, the revolution nearly collapsed. While others accepted Spanish amnesty, Guerrero retreated to the rugged mountains of the south. He famously declared, “La patria es primero” (My country comes first), a phrase that remains Mexico’s national motto today.
​His tenacity forced a stalemate that eventually led to the Plan of Iguala in 1821, securing Mexico’s freedom. However, his demand for the total abolition of the “casta” (racial hierarchy) system made him a target for the white elite who viewed his rise with disdain.
​A Presidential Legacy of Equality
​In 1829, Guerrero became Mexico’s second president. His short but transformative term was marked by radical progressivism:
• ​Abolition of Slavery: On September 16, 1829, he officially ended slavery in Mexico, nearly 36 years before the United States.
• ​Social Reform: He advocated for public education, land redistribution, and fair taxation.
• ​Inclusivity: He staffed his government with one of the most diverse cabinets in the nation’s history.
​Betrayal and Modern Recognition
​Guerrero’s vision of a truly egalitarian Mexico terrified the conservative establishment. In late 1829, he was ousted in a coup led by his own vice president. In 1831, he was captured and executed, an act meant to silence the voice of Mexico’s marginalized populations.
​For over a century, historians often “whitened” his image or minimized his African ancestry. Today, the state of Guerrero stands as a permanent monument to his name, honoring a leader who proved that true liberation requires the dismantling of both foreign rule and internal prejudice.
