mestizo

Mestizo is a term used to describe a person of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, commonly in Latin America and parts of the United States with historical ties to Spain. The term can also include people with African ancestry in some contexts; however, its meaning is not fixed and varies by country and era.

Mestizo derives from Spanish mestizo, from Latin mixtus meaning 'mixed.' The word emerged in the early colonial period to denote people of mixed Indigenous and European parentage.

During the Spanish colonial caste system, mestizos formed a large middle layer between Peninsulares and Criollos on the one hand, and Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities on the other. The term helped codify social status, property rights, and access to labor and political power, though the exact implications varied by region.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, many Latin American nations promoted mestizaje or 'racial mixing' as a basis for national identity and social cohesion, sometimes at the expense of acknowledging Indigenous or Afrodescendant communities' autonomy and rights.

Today, mestizo is used as a broad identifier in many countries, but its meaning differs: in some places it is a self-designation; in others it is an official census category; in others it is a cultural descriptor rather than a strict genetic category. Genetic studies show wide regional variation in ancestry among those who identify as mestizo.

Mestizo culture often refers to the blending of Indigenous, European, and African influences, shaping language, cuisine, music, art, and religious practice. The term remains controversial, reflecting ongoing debates about race, identity, and historical injustice.