Cherokee Maidens

Some time ago I wrote about a fascinating book I just happened to pick up about the "black Seminoles". It told the story of a group of African Americans who moved to Florida and joined with the Seminole Indians, before they were removed to Oklahoma Territory, and how this group of "black Seminoles" were sometimes part of the tribe, and sometimes not. Their fate was unfortunately, and certainly undeserved. But, although there were a few old people who remembered the black Seminoles, this was history, and interesting as history.

But now, it turns out, that there were also African Americans who affiliated with the Cherokees. In this instance, history seemed a bit different. For one thing, the "black Cherokee" had inter-married with Cherokees, just as other groups had inter-married with them. For another, they were long ago identified as tribal members. But now, the Cherokees have voted to de-tribe them. Not only full-blooded African-Americans, but any descendant of an African American, even if the majority of his or her ancestors were themselves Cherokee. Offspring of these relationships would be treated differently than any other group descendant from a mixture of Cherokee and non-Cherokee forebearers.

Racism is racism. It should not be allowed in this country, no matter who practices it. Tribal autonomy should not be permitted to abrogate this most basic fact.