Negroes Quote by Eric Williams
““the Indian slave was inefficient. The Spaniards discovered that one Negro was worth four Indians.22 A prominent official in Hispaniola insisted in 1518 that “permission be given to bring Negroes, a race robust for labor, instead of natives, so weak that they can only be employed in tasks requiring little endurance, such as taking care of maize fields or farms.”23 The future staples of the New World, sugar and cotton, required strength which the Indian lacked, and demanded the robust “cotton nigger” as sugar’s need of strong mules produced””
About This Quote
Source Book: Capitalism and Slavery by Eric Williams, 1944
The quote argues that European colonists preferred African slaves over Indigenous peoples because Africans were perceived as stronger and more suitable for labor-intensive crops like sugar and cotton.
In simple terms: Europeans chose African slaves for hard labor.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how labor demands shaped racial hierarchies.
Themes
colonialism
economics
race
labor
agriculture
Mood
critical
historical
analytical
Type
historical
sociopolitical
When to use this quote
- plantation management
- historical analysis
- education on slavery
- policy discussions
- museum curation
Key Concepts
exploitation
human valuation
commodity slavery
Questions to Reflect On
- How did African labor affect indigenous societies?
- What economic factors drove the shift to African slavery?
A Different Perspective
The view oversimplifies complex indigenous resistance and agency.
