Published by University of New Mexico Press
When Pueblo Indians say, “The first white man our people saw was a black man,” they are referring to Esteban, who came to New Mexico in 1539. After centuries of negative portrayals, this book highlights Esteban’s importance in America’s early history.Books about the history of the American West have ignored Esteban or belittled his importance, often using his slave nickname, Estebanico. What little we know about Esteban comes from Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and other Spanish chroniclers, whose condescension toward the African slave has carried over into most history books. In this work Herrick dispels the myths and outright lies about Esteban. His biography emphasizes Esteban rather than the Spaniards whose exploits are often exaggerated and jingoistic in the sixteenth-century chronicles. He gives Esteban full credit for his courage and his skill as a linguist and cultural intermediary who was trusted and respected by Indians from many tribes across the continent.
Subjects: BiographyHistorySouthwest
PrefaceAcknowledgmentsNoteworthy DatesNotes for the Modern ReaderChapter One. A Man of MysteriesChapter Two. The Morocco ConnectionChapter Three. Terrorism in the CaribbeanChapter Four. Esteban Arrives at HispaniolaChapter Five. Early Indian ResistanceChapter Six. A Disastrous BeginningChapter Seven. Invasion of FloridaChapter Eight. The Quest for GoldChapter Nine. Arrows Penetrating “Good Armor”Chapter Ten. Fleeing in Rickety BoatsChapter Eleven. Spaniards Forced into SlaveryChapter Twelve. Faith Healing and ProselytizingChapter Thirteen. Esteban’s Rise and FallChapter Fourteen. Return to Slavery, but an Indispensable ManChapter Fifteen. An African in Arizona and New MexicoChapter Sixteen. A Mysterious FateChapter Seventeen. Death? Or Freedom?Chapter Eighteen. The Durability of MythChapter Nineteen. Inhumane Bondage and Historical ContextChapter Twenty. What Isn’t Known about EstebanAppendix. An American Sculptor’s TributeNotesBibliographyIndex
