There were many different enslavement systems, each colonizer produced their own “code” and each crop had its own set of rules. The sugar plantation permitted the most “social movement” and was the most advantageous for the slaves.  The French and Spanish slave codes gave more "freedoms" to their slaves.  Those colored children born of “mixed” race had better opportunities, with rights to schooling, land rights, and could even own slaves.  For a long time many used this system, called “whitening the race” or “mejorando la raza”, to move up the social & economic ladder.