mestizaje

Mestizaje refers to the process and outcome of racial, ethnic, and cultural mixing in Latin America, especially the blending of Indigenous, European, and African ancestries. The term, derived from mestizo, has been used to describe both biological mixing and the synthesis of languages, religions, and customs that emerges from prolonged contact among diverse groups.

Historically, mestizaje has roots in the colonial era when Spanish and Indigenous populations intermarried and enslaved Africans arrived; a complex caste system developed with categories such as mestizo, mulato, zambo, etc. After independence, many Latin American states promoted mestizaje as a unifying national narrative to subsume ethnic differences under a common national identity, often framing mestizaje as progress and civilization.

Cultural expressions reflect mestizaje: culinary fusion, music, visual arts, and particularly religious syncretism, where Catholic saints merge with Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian practices; literature and film have portrayed mixed identities. This fusion has produced diverse national cultures and contributed to concepts of creolization and hybridity.

Contemporary criticism: while mestizaje can expand inclusivity, it can also obscure ongoing inequalities and erase distinct Indigenous and Afro-descendant identities. Some scholars argue it romanticizes mixing and reinforces assimilation. In Brazil, state-promoted narratives of 'racial democracy' have contested or disguised persistent racial hierarchies. In countries like Mexico, mestizaje has been invoked in national policy and education; debates highlight that ethnicity and heritage remain unevenly distributed.