Maria Chiquinquira Díaz was an Afro-Ecuadorian slave in the mid-18th century and was the very first slave in Ecuador to gain her freedom. There isn't a lot of information about Maria's life. All Afro-Ecuadorians remember from her is that she fought a fierce battle to be free and for the freedom of her daughters in May 1794, she changed the course of her history and that of thousands of people. black women in Ecuador. Despite being a slave, being human and knowing that she was dealing with barbarians, she was aware of her rights and fought for her freedom based on her knowledge.
Maria and several female slaves won their freedom by accusing and attacking the masters of dishonorable and inhuman acts, such as bearing children for female slaves, forcing work on Sundays, suspending time for women to care for their children. , but also prohibiting education. Maria and her friends are one of the proofs that we must fear the anger of African women. His portrait hangs in the Nahim Isaias Museum in Guayaquil.