Racial Hierarchy is a system where the society is divided based upon the appearances and other genetic aspects of the people living at a particular place. This hierarchy is made in order to divide the society in categories from superior to inferior. The Hispanic Racial Hierarchy is based on race which was used for the social control. The place of a race in the hierarchy also determined power and authority to practice various things. In this Hierarchy, the topmost group has the maximum power as well as concentration of money and the lowest group is the poorest and also with the least amount of concentration of power.
In any racial system, the power is concentrated in the hands of the topmost race and the end group has negligible amount of rights even to avail some of the basic needs of the Hispanic family. Have a look at the Hispanic Racial Hierarchy below:
- Peninsular: This was the race which held the highest social position. This was a term for people who were born in Spain. They were provided with the maximum rights and powers to make the society function according to their choice and convenience. They had the most amount of wealth concentrated in their hands as well and hence, they would often conduct injustice on the people of other racial groups.
- The Criollo: This was the term used for the people of Spanish racial origin who were born in Mesoamerica. They held this position because though they were of Spanish origin, they were born locally. They were most of the local land owning elite and were at an equal position to the nobles. They enjoyed a little lesser powers than that of Peninsular people but were still wealthier than the racial classes lower to them.
- Indio: This was the term used for the people of the Indigenous group. They were the people who were natives of Mesoamerica. They were provided with a very few rights and authorities when it came to social and civilian rights. Most of the local population was Indio and were comprising of small scale merchants or farm land owners.
- Negro: This was the race which was exploited the most. They were originally from the Black ancestry from Africa. They were often used as Slaves for free labor and had absolutely no rights for their own. They did not receive quality life at all and barely got the basic necessities of life.