Introduction
In 1883, a free African laborer, Julio Fernandez, petitioned the Catholic Church of Cuba for acknowledgment of his paternity of two young children. In form, that request was typical of many others. Cuban men of the colonial period had often done the same, extending legal recognition to their children born outside of wedlock. Nevertheless, two features draw attention to Julio's case. First, Julio submitted his petition soon after he obtained his freedom from slavery. ...