Final answer:
Mulattoes were people of mixed Spanish and African heritage during the colonial period in the Americas.
Step-by-step explanation:
People of mixed Spanish and African heritage were commonly called Mulattoes. This term was used during the colonial period to refer to individuals with one white and one black parent. The term is derived from the Spanish word 'mulato,' meaning mule, which reflects the mixed ancestry of these individuals. Mulattoes occupied an intermediate social status, often serving as a labor force or in other subordinate roles within colonial societies in the Americas.
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