The first known black person to ever set foot in North America was Juan Garrido, a Spanish Conquistador who worked alongside Juan Ponce de Leon. He was commonly known as ""Handsome John"" because of his good looks and suave personality.
Born in the 1480s in the Kingdom of Kongo, (located in West Central Africa), Garrido became one of the early conquistadors. His life story sheds light on the complex dynamics of race, slavery, and opportunity during that time, according to the article ""The Life of Juan Garrido, The First Black Conquistador"" by Carl Seaver.
His early life is subject to different interpretations among historians. One school of thought suggests that he may have started his life as an enslaved individual, sold to Portuguese slave traders. However, another perspective, documented by the National Park Service, proposes that Garrido could have been a dignitary, potentially the son of a king, who was traded as a commercial liaison.
Whatever the case, he was listed as a passenger on the log of a Portuguese vessel that transported him and other enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to Portugal. Seaver points out that at the time, Spanish colonizers captured and enslaved millions of Africans to bring to the Americas, forcing them to work as laborers in various industries, particularly on sugar plantations.
Upon his arrival in Lisbon, Portugal, he underwent baptism and conversion to Catholicism, embracing a new faith in a foreign land. It was during this time that he adopted the Spanish name, Juan Garrido, Seaver said.
At age 15, Garrido left Lisbon and traveled to Seville, Spain, joining The Santo Domingo convoy, bound for the island of Hispaniola in 1503. Among the passengers was a man named Pedro Garrido, who many historians speculate could have been his master and Christian namesake, according to the National Park Service.
Garrido spent six eventful years on Hispaniola, immersing himself in the vibrant and diverse society that was taking shape in the New World. The experience proved to be transformative, as he witnessed firsthand the emerging conquests, explorations, and unprecedented change that came from exploring new territories.
While Africans brought to the Caribbean as slaves faced grueling conditions on plantations, not all of them remained enslaved. Some achieved freedom and improved their circumstances through military enlistment, the pursuit of skilled labor, and the possibility of self-purchase.
By 1508, Juan Garrido had become a member of the Spanish auxiliary forces, actively participating in the invasion and capture of Puerto Rico and Cuba, likely earning his freedom through military service, according to an article ""Juan Garrido (1480-1550)"" by Luis Escamilla.
""The military service of black conquistadors gave them their freedom and inclusion into Spanish society. They received land grants, special recognition, official jobs, and pension,"" Seaver stated.
The opportunity to serve in the armed auxiliary was significant because it challenged the notions of racial inferiority and honored the contributions of African American people in the New World.
Garrido was considered a high-ranking officer in Ponce de Leon's expedition to search for gold in Puerto Rico. When the latter assumed the role of governor on the island, Garrido played a supportive role, siding with the Spanish against the natives who revolted. After being ousted as Governor, Ponce de Leon and Garrido went looking for gold, instead they found Florida. Ill-equipped to fight the natives, they vowed to return someday.
By 1519, Garrido was an experienced conquistador and joined Heran Cortes, which invaded Mexico and subsequently the Aztec capital. He was one of the few survivors of the battle of July 1520, where many of the Spanish troops were slaughtered. He collected the bodies of his fallen brethren and constructed a chapel at the site.
In recognition, he was rewarded land on a drained lakebed outside the Aztec capitol. Here he settled, married, and raised three children.
In 1521, Garrido returned to Florida with Ponce de Leon. Their expedition brought along settlers, livestock, supplies, and weapons, intending to establish control over the native population. However, before they could gain their foothold, the Native Americans attacked, fatally wounding Ponce de Leon. He was swiftly taken to Cuba for medical treatment but died a month later in Havana. After that, Garrido went on one last expedition, which he considered a failure. He returned to his home in present-day Mexico City, retiring from exploring. Garrido had dedicated over 30 years to serving in the Spanish forces.
There, he embraced a new role as a farmer and achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first to successfully harvest wheat in the Americas. Bringing wheat to the people of Mexico was significant as historically, it had been reserved for people of elite social status. He passed away at his farm sometime between 1547 and 1550.
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