Theodore Vincent, in the article The contributions of Mexico’s first black Indian president Vicente Guerrero illustrates Vicente’s contribution to Mexico’s political foundation between 1781-1831. Guerrero had an African, Indian, and Spanish inheritance. Guerrero’s motherland was a colonial setting where anyone with an African heritage was subjected to lawful detriments by the Spaniards, such as only Africans were subject to slavery. Vicente’s life contributions depict a consistent battle to attain equal rights for African-Mexicans and those on his family’s indigenous side.
The first black Indian president is termed as a “consummator of freedom” due to his role as commander in chief of the Mexican armed forces during the 1810-1821 battle with Spain. In 1810, the Mexicans needed native individuals because many abandoned their ranks when the war became tough. The war for freedom was unreasonably between Afro-Mexicans and Spaniards. Guerrero worked to recruit native Mexicans into the war to ensure victory. Persuading the natives to join the war was a difficult task as many signed peace treaties with Spaniards. However, their need to gain Mexico’s liberty united the natives with Afro-Mexicans to foster peace and independence.
Vincente is known as the Mexican Abraham Lincoln for abolishing slavery nationwide. Theodore (//) accredits the freedom fighter as the creator of grass roots- arranged political convention. However, a century after the battle for independence, the Mexican social revolution linked to Zapata Emiliano came into existence. The revolution aimed to end the 30 years of dictatorship rule of Portirio Diaz, exploitation and poor treatment of workers, and the inequality between the poor and the rich. Rafael Ramos termed Guerrero as the pioneer of the revolution due to his sacred belief in equality and his thoughts for laboring class. Vincente was the precursor for the distribution of large amounts of land to the peasants. The action by his government addressed conflicts that dated back to the freedom years.
Guerrero was linked to the Zapatista rebels in Chiapas in 1990. The Zapatista rebels aimed to fight against neoliberalism in Mexico. Due to their failure, they channeled their efforts to protest against the signing of the North America Free Trade Agreement, aiming to increase inequality in Chapais. Signing in of the agreement would end land distribution and regularize landholdings making it impossible for a mere peasant to obtain land.
Guerrero inspired the Blacks or Indians to gain office and ensure equality. He was raised in an area full of indigenous native Mexicas. Due to his upbringing, he had positive relations with Native Mexicans. Theodore // states Vincete interacted with the powerful native Mexicans, which made him envision the Mexican nation with many Afro-Mexican leaders in powerful positions. In his reign, he mentored Black Indians, and one of his descendants is Cardenas, who is popular for two activities; nationalizing oil and redistributing large tracks of land to peasants. Apart from Cardenas, other Vincente’s descendants include an economist, congresspeople, two governors, and ecologists. All Vincente’s descendants rose in rank with and aimed to eliminate inequality.
Guerrero was a national hero who, through traveling, became familiar with the independence movement. Morelos, the leader of a rebellious movement, mentored Guerrero, and after his execution, Guerrero became the new commander in chief of the rebellious army fighting against the Spanish. The nation of Mexico was Guerrero’s priority, and as president, he established a politically radical tradition and abolished slavery. For an individual to change the status quo, they must be radical and fight for one’s belief to the point of death like Vincente, whose sacred belief was equality.