Revealing the Stories of Black Lives in Early Modern Spain

Imagine a bustling street in 16th-century Seville or Lisbon, where Black women and men—enslaved, freed, and in-between—were vital to the city’s life, culture, and creativity. My recent publications, Black Voices and Iberia negra, uncover the rich and often-overlooked stories of these Afro-Iberian communities, whose lives shaped the world we think we know.In Black Voices, I explore how Black individuals left their mark on early modern Spanish literature. From uncovering forgotten Black poets to reinterpreting canonical works, this book offers a fresh lens on Spain’s literary history. It reveals how the transatlantic slave trade reshaped human and cultural landscapes, urging us to see the African diaspora as central to the story of early modern Spain. Iberia negra, a collective volume I co-edited, brings together fresh perspectives on Afro-Iberian lives across Spain and Portugal. This collection introduces extraordinary new sources: letters from an Afro-Iberian woman fighting for her family’s freedom, inquisitorial records of African healers in Lisbon, and overlooked theatrical texts. Through these, we see not just survival but resistance, agency, and the creativity of Black communities navigating a complex world. Together, these works invite readers to reimagine the past—not as a distant, closed chapter, but as a dynamic and interconnected story. By amplifying voices long silenced, Black Voices and Iberia negra inspire us to think differently about history, literature, and the enduring impact of the African diaspora.For more about these stories and Black identity in early modern Spain, you can listen to my interview on Radio Africa, where I discuss Afro-Iberian cultural and social life alongside the music that shaped their world.