"Based on your culture and traditions, do you consider yourself Afro-Mexican, black, or Afro-descendant?" It was a simple but powerful question. And long overdue.

The 2020 Mexican census was the culmination of a very long journey to Afro-Mexicans finally being seen in an official capacity.

Mexico's history with peoples of African descent is a long one and dates back to the early 1500s, first brought over by their Spanish masters to help them conquer the indigenous population. Through the 1800s, an estimated 200,000 enslaved Africans were kidnapped and brought to Mexico as part of the Atlantic Slave Trade. And later, after Mexico officially abolished slavery, 3,000-5,000 made the journey south from the United States seeking freedoms that would not be afforded them for another 36 years.

And yet, despite their long history and cultural and economic contributions to the region, Afro-Mexicans remained largely ignored.