According to this article, what were the roles and the importance of Africans in Spanish America?

They were soilders, servants, settlers, and slaves, They were both voluntary expeditionaries and a involuntary colonists

What are some of the examples the article uses to support its argument about the role of Black Conquistadors?

They spent many years with Indian Tribes in captivity.

Race is a social construct. How was race constructed in Colonial Mexico and how did these constructs change depending on a persons social position?

Esteban was the first African in Texas and soon became The Western United States. Juan Flores was one of the four survivors in the journery of Panfilo de Narvaez.