Black Ladinos were Spanish-speaking black African slaves born in Latin America, or exiled to the Americas after spending time in Castille or Portugal. They were often referret to as negros ladinos ("cultivated" or "latinized Blacks"), as opposed to negros bozales (i.e., those captured in Africa).
Between 1502 and 1518 Spain exiled hundreds of black slaves who had spent time in Castille or Portugal and had been Christianized and learned to speak Spanish, primarily to work as miners. Opponents of their enslavement cited their weak Christian faith and their proclivity for escaping to the mountains or joining the Native Americans in revolt. Proponents declared that the rapid diminution of the Native American population required a consistent supply of reliable low-cost workers. Free Spaniards were reluctant to do manual labor or to remain settled (especially after the discovery of gold on the mainland), and only slave labor assured the economic viability of the colonies.
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