One More Thing [Archive] - Saponitown Forum

Tom

07-26-2006, 03:57 PM

Hey Erica, Iam not sure where this is coming from and I am a bit concerned.
Like I have posted many times, I am not offended that you use the term "black Indian"., there are "white Indians" so why is it that the term "black Indian" may have caused concerns for others?
Iam still very much okay with you refering to yourself in the terms that make you most comfortable.
I could care less if others are offended by the term it's yours in refering to yourself so why would anyone have a problem with that.
From what I have read from all of your posts I know that I'd like you in person as much as I do on the forum!
Like many things in life, "Saponi Town" does have it's ups and downs, if for some reason there is no responce or very little to a post doesn't mean that we are not reading them it may just mean that others may not have an opinion, which believe me in my case may be a good thing not to post.,
hang in there, I've become accustomed to seeing you here and I really hate change, so stick around.
HAve a great day!

sammarroq

07-26-2006, 04:39 PM

Erica,

I second what Tom has shared; call yourself whatever you want to, this shows you are secure in who you are. I have different features and am often asked what nationality I am, it can at times be irritating, but I am who I am also... Take care, and as Tom said, "Hang Around!" :) :)

Shirley

Linda

07-26-2006, 05:30 PM

I think most of us feel that way one way or another. For me, I've spent a lot of time in "black" Indian circles and oftentimes felt that I was being dismissed as "just" white. Sometimes the dynamics played out in very humiliating and destructive ways.

One of the really interesting things about this resurgence of Indian identity and allegiance is the way people from the "races," as defined by ante-bellum legislatures, are now being thrown back together in more natural ways, reaffirming family ties formerly run asunder by racial assignations. It's an upheaval, with lots and lots of baggage. It can be very painful, but it's all part of a growth that, I believe, in the end is worthwhile. In short, there's meaning to your suffering, cousin, and that, they say, makes it much more survivable.

dovelady

07-26-2006, 07:08 PM

Hi Erica,

OMG hon, is someone giving you a bad time? Let me at them! I love reading your posts and seeing your sweet face.

You are one of my favorite posters here. When I see your face on a post I know it is going to be a good one and that you have something interesting to say. And like Tom said, I know you and I would also get along so well if we lived close enough to hang together. (even though I am old and you are young).

If someone has a problem with you being a 'black indian' or saying that you are a black indian then that's their problem! Genetics are genetics, if you are black and indian, then that's what you are. And if someone gets ticked off about the term..then they can go jump off of the cliff!!

grrr.. It makes me angry that someone might harrass you or give you a hard time. And good for you that you are proud of who you are and that you are not afraid to speak up for yourself.

Please know that you are loved here on Saponi Town and don't you dare let anyone intimidate or harrass you into being anything else but the wonderful person you are!

grrr.. let me at em. :mad: Oh man! Even the fact that you have had to ask such a question ticks me off! How dare anyone offend you or make you feel 'less than'. If someone on Saponi Town has done that I hope they get booted right off!!

Saponi hugs to you.

1_optimistic

07-27-2006, 07:53 AM

I want to thank you all for your encouraging words because I've been feeling a little upset. Some Not All Native Americans that I've met suggested that I choose............I either be BLACK or be INDIAN. I am NOT going to choose because that would be a slap in ALL of my ancestor's faces. Their blending together created me :-)

Psalm 139: 13-14

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Praise the Creator because I am HIS CHILD and he could care less what bloodline I have flowing in my veins.

Again, thank you all for your kind words. Yes, I was a little heated but I will choose to think happy thoughts :p

Erica

dovelady

07-27-2006, 05:06 PM

I love that Psalm. It's one of my favorites. :)

I'm glad we have been able to help a little. I'm going to attempt to send you a private email. So look for one from a Paltia@aol.com

DAJ42

07-27-2006, 10:36 PM

Erica, your ancestry is your ancestry. If the way you choose to describe yourself, "Black Indian", is accurately descriptive, why change?

As to having to choose between being "Black" or "Indian"? Nawwwwww. Indians have been taking things from other cultures and adapting them for use in the local tribal culture forever. Indian cultures have always been changing and adaptive, not static. So you celebrate your Indianness differently than the next person.

Some people are just scared to find out who some of their relations are, especially the relatives that don't look the same as they do. Living in denial of facts is a general human trait, which it seems that you're unfortunately running into.

I'd guess many of us have run into something similar. I know I have most of my life, and it continues today. What others have said about being yourself is the only way to live.

And what Linda said above is quite true. There is an upheavel going on today, and it is painful, but it will have rewards in the future.

Mousini78

07-28-2006, 08:41 AM

Erica..your tag line says it all....God's child. And that's all that really matters. Yes, there are going to be times that are trying as far as people trying to categorize you....but, what you think is the most important. As someone that is "white", I face the other type of challenge...."You're part Indian? What part?"....I just let it go. I know what I feel and that's all that matters. You are who you are...God's child.

Ed Yancey

07-28-2006, 10:04 AM

Erica, you got my e-mail but I thought this might be a good place and time to share this item I received last evening.

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said,
"Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like." The Lord led
the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man
looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and
made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were
strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of
stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their
arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man
shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You
have seen Hell."

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew
which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long - handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, "I don"t understand." " It
is simple" said the Lord, "It requires but one skill. You see, they have learned
to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."

There is a Holy Scripture that says it most profoundly, "Pride goes before a fall and a haughty spirit before Destruction." We should know our self worth and that only because we have been created in His image and He has breathed into us the Breath of Life. We should never walk in Arrogance and Self Pride based on foolish physical accomplishment or atribute. Ed, Shell Man

sammarroq

07-28-2006, 02:16 PM

Ed,

Thank you for deciding to share the story with us; it was great. Have a great day!:D

dovelady

07-28-2006, 09:36 PM

Ed! What a beautiful story!

Thank you for posting it .

roca

07-30-2006, 04:48 PM

Re: Message #4

Linda,it's sad that some black NDN's ragged on you for being/looking
'white" instead of rallying around what y'all have in common.What hypocrits!:mad: I wasn't there but I'd be willing to bet most of those who treated you in that rude way are themselves triracial.Send 'em up here;I'll give them a good cussing out:D

But,seriously,I agree with what you are saying in the 2nd paragraph.The
"resurgence of Indian identity and allegiance" is a byproduct of the increasing
interest in geneology among US residents.This is challenging the "racial assignations",as you say it,that we've inherited from the slavery/Reconstruction/Jim crow eras.

Of course,there's going to be some baggage,but as I've said before, finding out about and honoring the ancestors will be one factor in healing our land of its racial demons.

Roca

Dreaminghawk

07-31-2006, 10:24 PM

Of course,there's going to be some baggage,but as I've said before, finding out about and honoring the ancestors will be one factor in healing our land of its racial demons.

AHO

Akhasa

08-01-2006, 04:05 PM

Peace Yall,
Erica, I just visited some of my family and found out that they let a lot of our connection to each other fall apart over "Black Indian" and "White Indian"- so hang in there, it's worth it. Sometimes we have both "looks" in the same family. The common thread is that both know they're NDN; and that can be most down played of all. We've all got a lot of lovin and healin to do. The older ones died, and the younger ones kept asking, what are those black people doing in your house, or what are those white people doing in your house, and nobody "chose" to speak up, so people got tired of feeling uncomfortable and stopped associating with each other. Same blood, same names, same small town.

akhasa

Tom

08-04-2006, 03:58 PM

recently I was told that I was born a "N...." and just turned white, Iam sure that I could have made this person fly, but being me I just let them know that I was not happy, so far.. it's working... don't let anyone push you around or insult you.
Stand your ground Hard!!!

1_optimistic

02-06-2007, 11:45 AM

You know, posting threads/replies is therapy for me. It's like writing in a diary but with interaction from others. :) I found myself re-reading your responses and I feel more at peace with some of my obstacles that I've had to face last year regarding the Native and African American culture. You know....self-identification. Thanks for everything family. :D

Tom

02-06-2007, 02:11 PM

I have done that aswell, sometimes I read posts with a tone that is not there and then later re-read them, and they kinda fuse things together.
One issue that I try and not do is get to heavy or negative, being positive about certain things is often hard; at night when I lay my head down to sleep, I give thanx for all the hard times because they teach me more about who Iam than who any one else is.

blackindiangirl

02-09-2007, 02:27 PM

Erica, I'm glad that you post your frustrations here too. For me coming in long after you.....it's kinda nice to read your posts. Because you know what? I have to search first to see if you already brought up the subject!!!!:D

Some ndn's also want me to chose one race over the other.....preferably ndn of course. In their (his) argument is that the ndn came first, which I disagree with...because Africa is the mother nation! But I don't want to choose, because then I'd have to leave out the Caucasian, the Asian, the Irish/Scottish, etc.! (Caucasian is fact, Asian and Irish is suspected)

What can I do about my family having black hair, brown hair, red hair.....and green eyes, brown eyes, very light eyes, black eyes, grey eyes; wide round eyes, slant eyes, almond-shaped eyes.....drk skin, brown skin, fair freckled skin, fair very light skin....what am I to do? Disown my entire family, that I keep adding to the family tree because of the way they look? Family is family and I LOVE the variety.....it adds excitement to my tree. Can you imagine if every person in the world looked the same? HA!! How BBBBOOORRRIIINNNGGGG!!!:eek:

So hang tight, sis. There is no defined pure race other than human....we're all mixed up!!! And I LOVE being mixed up, because it makes me feel special. I realize that my particular makeup of ethnicities are unique only to me.....no one else can be an EXACT me!!!!:p :D

Be encouraged!

Tom

02-09-2007, 02:30 PM

Hey Ladies, well this month in Canada is "Black History Month", what really blew me away was that the first free black man in Canada came here with one of our first explorers in 1604 and spoke atleast 5 languages!

blackindiangirl

02-09-2007, 02:42 PM

Are you serious Tom? It's Black History Month here too. Reminds me of my great-uncle. He went to college and became a Linguist and worked for the Gov't. He "passed" when the occasion called for it......LOL. When he would travel first class (on the train) they would serve him, and tried to figure out what race he was "well, he ain't a negro, but he ain't white either..." And since he liked to keep white people guessing....he would speak in a different language all the time....so he asked for more tea in French.

1_optimistic

02-09-2007, 03:26 PM

:D
Erica, I'm glad that you post your frustrations here too. For me coming in long after you.....it's kinda nice to read your posts. Because you know what? I have to search first to see if you already brought up the subject!!!!:D

Some ndn's also want me to chose one race over the other.....preferably ndn of course. In their (his) argument is that the ndn came first, which I disagree with...because Africa is the mother nation! But I don't want to choose, because then I'd have to leave out the Caucasian, the Asian, the Irish/Scottish, etc.! (Caucasian is fact, Asian and Irish is suspected)

What can I do about my family having black hair, brown hair, red hair.....and green eyes, brown eyes, very light eyes, black eyes, grey eyes; wide round eyes, slant eyes, almond-shaped eyes.....drk skin, brown skin, fair freckled skin, fair very light skin....what am I to do? Disown my entire family, that I keep adding to the family tree because of the way they look? Family is family and I LOVE the variety.....it adds excitement to my tree. Can you imagine if every person in the world looked the same? HA!! How BBBBOOORRRIIINNNGGGG!!!:eek:

So hang tight, sis. There is no defined pure race other than human....we're all mixed up!!! And I LOVE being mixed up, because it makes me feel special. I realize that my particular makeup of ethnicities are unique only to me.....no one else can be an EXACT me!!!!:p :D

Be encouraged!

I am glad that you enjoy my posts. I did not think that I was that influential. Go figure! It's a growing process for me. I am sure that I am not writing the most "politically correct" things but I write what's in my heart at that moment.

Red Metis

03-01-2007, 01:50 PM

1_optimistic

03-01-2007, 04:21 PM

Hello Family,

It is so very encouraging to read these posts and see the support from everyone here. It can be rough to claim our heritage if we have any black ancestry at--it's like it cancels out anything else. There are some, not all, Freedmen descendants in the 5 Civillized Tribes that have a legitimate claim to enroll in their respective nations but are not accepted despite their ancestors being on BOTH the Dawes rolls as well as on the Freedman rolls. There is a denial that this is racism but....

It is true--we should all be pulling together in this as one.

Somebody in BIA and other places are laughing about this. They worked hard to sow seeds of discord and having people make 'rules' about who is Indian and who is not--it has been bearing fruit for a long time. It is wonderful to see that the tide is turning the other way but it is a lot to overcome all the attitudes and false assumptions. We ought to able to pass for what we are and never allow another's definitions of what they perceive us to be get in our way.

Drae

It is comforting to find out that there are more people that support my beliefs and opinions than I thought. Sometimes I feel like I am outnumbered by those who want "black blood" to be "ignored". Truth is truth and facts are facts. At times, I try to get over what other people think about my blended heritage but it is difficult to embrace "both cultures" when I am constantly reminded that I should pick and choose. Not going to happen:D

Never Ever:D

Tom

03-02-2007, 02:28 PM

I can't help but think how open minded many of our ancestors must have been but to think that there are still people out there that need to ignore the obvious.
A friend of mine nce asked me if I wanted an Indian name, I said no I like mine already, he said that he did not understand me, I replied that I was from 2 heritages and that I address both each day, that's who I am!

tianicwanga

03-20-2007, 11:25 PM

Hi Erica
I am new here and I am just discovering what you are talking about being that I too am a black indan .
Have you ever heard of the Binay tribe , it's a tribal originazion and a tribe set up for people like us .
If you want you can check them out at blackindians.com and you will find a whole community of people like us who have the same expierences from all over the country and even canada and mexico.
There is even info posted on the site that you might find usefull
Hopes this helps
Have a blessed day .
tia