Assesses to present state of knowledge of African-American contributions to, and the role of slavery in the settlement of, the Americas. Suggests areas for future research and discusses research problems. Argues that the economics of capitalism had more effect on conditions of slavery than did the legal codes. (DK)

Asserts that scholarship on the formative period of the African presence in the Americas is still in its infancy. Explores the role of ethnicity in the construction of the lives of African-born slaves in Mexico City during the early 1600s. Discusses implications of the findings, including the impact of ethnicity on marriage choices. (CFR)