Mestizos
Definition
Mestizos are people of mixed indigenous American and European ancestry.
Analogy
Imagine making a smoothie with strawberries (representing indigenous Americans) and bananas (representing Europeans). The resulting drink is a blend of both - that's what mestizos are in terms of racial heritage.
Related terms
Mulattoes: These are people of mixed white (usually European) and black (usually African) ancestry.
Social Hierarchy/System: A social structure where individuals are classified based on their racial purity or birthplace. Mestizos fit into this hierarchy during colonial times.
Caste System: A rigid class structure based on heredity and occupation, which can be likened to the social hierarchy mestizos found themselves within.
"Mestizos" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.