The African and Native American Connection

Dear 1Optimistic,

Also:

http://www.blackindians.com

Roca:)

I went to a book signing 7-8 years ago and met author Patrick Minges who edited “Black Indian Slave Narratives”. (c. 2004,John Blair,Publisher)

I found it to be an interesting read.

Amending post #2,the last time I went to http://www.blackindians.com,I couldn’t get onto the site. My browser told me that the site probably contained malware. I was also told by 2 black looking powwow dancers a few years back that the backer of that website (the “chief”) is not held in high regard by other NDNs. (I’m not going to list all the reasons here.)

I’ve been told by these 2 powwow dancers and others than one is either a Native descendant or one is not,

period.

roca;36794 wrote: I went to a book signing 7-8 years ago and met author Patrick Minges who edited “Black Indian Slave Narratives”. (c. 2004,John Blair,Publisher)

I found it to be an interesting read.

Amending post #2,the last time I went to http://www.blackindians.com,I couldn’t get onto the site. My browser told me that the site probably contained malware. I was also told by 2 black looking powwow dancers a few years back that the backer of that website (the “chief”) is not held in high regard by other NDNs. (I’m not going to list all the reasons here.)

I’ve been told by these 2 powwow dancers and others than one is either a Native descendant or one is not,

period.

Yes, I went to that website and read a little about the “chief” and I got a little suspicious too. I agree with the “Native descendant or not” idea. I guess I’m just not accustomed to saying it outloud to anyone because its been an “underground” knowledge in my family for so long. We just never discussed it. We just did certain traditional things and had certain very old artifacts at granny’s house, but never talked about the fact that we were native descendants. I guess I’m just getting accustomed to the idea of proclaiming this to others outside my family. . . not quite there yet.

MarcSnelling;36988 wrote: Indian Voices is a Southern California / Nevada paper that provides some good coverage on this connection. For instance Loren Katz: http://www.indianvoices.net/latest-editorials/175-black-indians-a-hidden-heritage-interview-with-loren-katz

The paper puts particular emphasis on exploring historical links between the cultures and building bridges in the present.

Mi Marc – thank you so much for this. I’m glad that the historic fact of relationship between the two groups (at least in the southeast) is at least being discussed. There have been so many who have denied that the two groups ever even met!

MarcSnelling;36993 wrote: I hear you. In my opinion it is ridiculous to deny because just looking at people proves the relationship. Some incredible people are the product of these two cultures coming together. James Brown comes to mind off the top of my head.

Rose Davis is the lady who publishes this paper. She’s super cool. Although she is based in San Diego shes from the east.

I know the paper well because when I used to work on the rezs (Sycuan, Viejas, Campo, La Posta) out there I would distribute it. I also delivered it to Pala, Pauma, Mesa Grande, Rincon, Santa Ysabel, and Los Coyotes rez’s too. I write the odd story on the rare occasions that I have something worth saying.

How awesome that you’ve been able to work with various rezs. and yes, in terms of native/african mixtures, we can add Jimmy Hendrix and Tina Turner to the list. I’d love to look into this paper. I’m in Los Angeles, but my family (maternal side) originated in North Carolina.

The other thing that confirms for me the fact of the native mixtures in the east is the laws that were developed back then to control the mixtures. If natives weren’t mixing and having children with other groups, there wouldn’t have been so many laws that specifically address how to legally handle the mixed children. It is fairly well understood that indians as well as africans were enslaved, although not as large in number as africans were, but they were enslved to a significant degree in the southeast. If someone is taken into slavery, they are removed from their original community, and their new community becomes that of their captors, as well as the other captives. Also, kidnapping 101 says that when you take a person away from their community, you take them far enough away so they can’t get home, and their folks can’t come look for them. Then change their name, and the break from their past family lineage is complete. So the mixtures with white and with black in the southeast are both logical and well-documented. I think the knowledge of these mixtures is upsetting to some, and I can understand that. But history is what it is.

Linda;36997 wrote: With the Removal Act in 1830 it became illegal to be an Indian in the South. Those who remained had to accept being enumerated as either black or white. Unless you were wealthy and well assimilated, you could expect to be classified as Black. If you look at most of the state -recognized tribes, they were listed, until the last few decades, as Black. The Paper Genocide. Removal also coincided with the abolition of the slave trade, which placed huge pressures on submerged native groups, as many were kidnapped into slavery. Some believe that the reason the Black population in the Upper South is lighter complected than those in the Deep South is because of the high admixture of Indian blood to the group, rather than white.

. . .The complexions may be all over the map, but the grey matter is consistently first rate.

Great post, Linda: Thanks for this info. I’m so amazed with so much of what I’ve read out there in the blog-o-sphere on native sites where they say that “we descendants have to live with the “choices” our ancestors made to “leave their trives and DECIDE not to identify as native.” Slavery, removal and paper genocide don’t sound very much like voluntary choices!

By the way, I’m going to see what I can do to try to get my hands on that manuscript from the South Dakota Historical Society about the Siha Sapa origins in VA. – – Great work, Linda! (your website is so helpful to us all.)