About the Spanish in North America being "white"— it really is complicated. I don't know about De Anza in particular but in the 16th century many of the conquistadores married into what had been the Aztec aristocracy. (For example, Juan de Oñate, if I recall correctly. Oñate was the last conquistador, of the Kingdom of "New Mexico.") It seems to me that too many people in 21st century US apply ideas from textbooks about the US in the 19th century with its race laws to cultures and times where it doesn't quite add up that same way.
Bingo. USA's 20th Century race laws were slathered on late 20th C. and early 21st C kids' history books like rancid peanut butter on top the super complicated realities of Nueva España/Mexico. Add the reality the North American indians in pre-Columbian times were not at all times all kumbaaya peacenik nature lovers...
The Anzas were Basque thus never fully trusted by the viceroy & company because not just outsider Basques with their different language but they were born colonials. Add in the whole post-1492 Spanish Jewish and Moorish "coversos" issues and determining what are "Spanish" genetics is a big mix.
Excellent report, fascinating throughout.
About the Spanish in North America being "white"— it really is complicated. I don't know about De Anza in particular but in the 16th century many of the conquistadores married into what had been the Aztec aristocracy. (For example, Juan de Oñate, if I recall correctly. Oñate was the last conquistador, of the Kingdom of "New Mexico.") It seems to me that too many people in 21st century US apply ideas from textbooks about the US in the 19th century with its race laws to cultures and times where it doesn't quite add up that same way.
Bingo. USA's 20th Century race laws were slathered on late 20th C. and early 21st C kids' history books like rancid peanut butter on top the super complicated realities of Nueva España/Mexico. Add the reality the North American indians in pre-Columbian times were not at all times all kumbaaya peacenik nature lovers...
The Anzas were Basque thus never fully trusted by the viceroy & company because not just outsider Basques with their different language but they were born colonials. Add in the whole post-1492 Spanish Jewish and Moorish "coversos" issues and determining what are "Spanish" genetics is a big mix.
Just added more pix.