Sailing Through the Sacraments: Ethnic and Cultural Geographies of a Port and Its Churches-Cartagena de Indias

A unique analysis of parish books from Cartagena de Indias Cathedral reveals the complex ethnic and cultural dynamics within a slave society, challenging rigid racial hierarchies. These records, maintained by naval chaplains, document sacraments performed across diverse groups—including Spaniards, Creoles, Africans, free people of color (pardos libres), and enslaved individuals—exposing fluid social boundaries and the agile navigation of racial fissures within a frontier society. The study maps distinct geographical spaces developed along the coast and in the port city, illustrating how Africans, Europeans, and Indigenous peoples collectively created a multicultural 'tropical Babylon.' This work underscores the adaptability of institutions like the navy, military, and church in incorporating marginalized groups, thereby reshaping the theoretical caste system.

France, R. S.-L. (2015). Sailing Through the Sacraments: Ethnic and Cultural Geographies of a Port and Its Churches-Cartagena de Indias. Slavery & Abolition, 36(3), 460–477. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144039x.2015.1067398