Untold Stories of Black Women in History
When considering Black women, what comes to mind? Historically, the journey of Black women is nuanced, marked by both adversity and triumph. Black women have significantly shaped American society, making monumental contributions to its development.
So, in recognition of Women’s History Month, let’s explore the untold stories of Black women, starting with Isabel De Olvera. She, a woman of African descent, boldly joined Juan Onate’s expedition to New Spain, encompassing present-day New Mexico, Florida, and Arizona. Born to an African man and an Indian woman, Olvera’s narrative is captivating, being one of the few women of African descent to set foot in this land before its formal establishment. She exhibited the resilient spirit characteristic of Black women by petitioning the mayor of Querétaro, Mexico, for protection of her rights prior to embarking on Juan de Onate’s expedition. Aware of the potential threats to her freedom, she carried documentation as proof, expressing in her deposition, “[I] have reason to fear that I may be annoyed by some individual since I am mulatto.” After substantiating her legitimacy with three witnesses, Olvera was granted permission to join the expedition.
It’s empowering 
to acknowledge that the first Black women to arrive on this land were not enslaved but explorers, whose endeavors paved the way for our present circumstances. Many of these African women could be categorized as indentured servants, missionaries, interpreters, or leaders. Our historical narrative transcends the limitations of conventional textbooks, delving deeper than the narrow depiction often portrayed. Women like Olvera arrived as free individuals, challenging the prevalent narrative of Black women solely arriving in chains during the later era of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
After Olvera, numerous individuals of African descent supported explorers in their journeys. Although accounts of women are frequently omitted, there are instances where women, thought to be African, are mentioned. However, with the onset of the Atlantic Slave Trade, Black women ceased to arrive in this country as free individuals but rather as chattel, bound in chains. Nonetheless, stories like Olvera’s are imperative to reclaiming a more comprehensive understanding of the diverse experiences of Black women in history.
