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Born on August 10, 1782, in Tixtla (now part of the Mexican state of Guerrero, named in his honor), Vicente Guerrero was of African, Indigenous, and Mestizo descent. Guerrero emerged as a formidable leader during Mexico's war for independence from Spanish rule, which began in 1810.
Guerrero joined the insurgent forces in 1810 and quickly ascended the ranks under José María Morelos’s guidance. Known for his tactical acumen and relentless spirit, Guerrero played a crucial role in maintaining the revolutionary cause in southern Mexico even after the movement suffered numerous setbacks. His ability to rally diverse groups under a common goal of liberation underscored his commitment to equality and justice.
One of Guerrero’s most significant contributions came through his alliance with Agustín de Iturbide, a former royalist general. Together, they formulated the Plan of Iguala in 1821, which outlined the principles for an independent Mexico: preserving Roman Catholicism, unifying all Mexicans regardless of ethnicity, and independence from Spanish rule. This plan was pivotal in achieving Mexican independence. The union of Guerrero and Iturbide’s forces culminated in the Army of the Three Guarantees’ entrance into Mexico City, marking the end of Spanish control.
In 1829, Vicente Guerrero became the President of Mexico, making history as one of the nation’s first Black presidents. During his presidency, he championed the rights of the marginalized, including the abolition of slavery, which he decreed in September 1829.
Guerrero’s presidency, however, was short-lived. He faced significant political and military opposition, leading to his overthrow. Guerrero was deposed in a rebellion under Vice-President Anastasio Bustamante that began on December 4, 1829.
Guerrero was taken to Oaxaca City and summarily tried by a court-martial. Guerrero was executed by firing squad in Cuilapam on February 14, 1831. Several scholars have speculated that Guerrero was executed instead of being exiled because of his mixed blood. The opposition to his presidency came from the great landowners, generals, clerics, and Spaniards, and that Guerrero's execution was perhaps a warning to men considered socially and ethnically inferior not to dare to dream of becoming president.
Guerrero is a Mexican national hero. The state of Guerrero is named in his honor, and several towns in Mexico are named in honor of this famous general. Despite the brevity of his term, his visionary policies laid the groundwork for future reforms and set a precedent for civil rights in Mexico.
Eventually, honors were conferred on surviving members of Guerrero's family, and a pension was paid to his widow. In 1842, Vicente Guerrero's remains were exhumed and returned to Mexico City for reinterment.
Today In Black History
In 1862, Mary Patterson became the first Black woman in the United States to earn a Master of Arts degree when it was awarded to her from Oberlin College.
In 1881, Blanche Kelso Bruce was sworn in as a U.S. Senator from Mississippi, becoming the first Black person to serve a full term in the Senate and the first former slave to preside over the Senate.
In 1964, Elder Hawkins Garnet became the first Black moderator of the United Presbyterian Church.
In 1975, Lowell W. Perry was confirmed as the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) chairman.
In 2001, French Taubria law officially recognized the Atlantic slave trade as crimes against humanity.
In 2018, Barack and Michelle Obama signed a multi-million-dollar deal to produce films and series for Netflix.
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Imagine how powerful his personality must have been to reach the presidency at all in that day and age. It further supports my view of Mexico as very different from the cartoon we all grew up with. I love that their current president is a Jewish woman, and she's right in Trump's face. Viva.
Imagine how powerful his personality must have been to reach the presidency at all in that day and age. It further supports my view of Mexico as very different from the cartoon we all grew up with. I love that their current president is a Jewish woman, and she's right in Trump's face. Viva.