Accounts describe him as unusually tall during adolescence and eventually reaching approximately 2.18 meters as an adult.
At that height, he would have towered above most men of his era.
His body became the defining feature by which others identified him.
But what attracted attention was not height alone.
According to traditional accounts, Roque had relatively thin lower legs compared with his broad upper body. This physical characteristic contributed to the nickname Pata Seca.
To modern readers, the nickname may sound strange or even harmless.
Within the historical context, however, it illustrates how an enslaved person's identity could be reduced to an anatomical observation.
Instead of being recognized for his personality, intelligence, preferences, or individual experiences, Roque became known for the way his body looked.
More disturbing still was a belief reportedly held by certain slaveholders.
Some accounts claim that tall men with slender legs were thought to be especially likely to father male children.
