Enslavement to
freedom
Notes, observations, historical hints, tidbits and stories from the community.
Study Areas
Old Mail
2002 Mail
2003 Mail
2004 Mail
2005 Mail
2006 Mail
2007 Mail
2009 Mail
2004 Mail
Reply to Bonnie Jansen on Native American Heritage
From Calobe Jackson, Jr., July 9, 2004
Dear Bonnie,
your letter about some possible Indian Heritage is very interesting. Many African Americans often talk of Indian Heritage when they are giving oral histories, although they cannot document the connection. In my own family I found that my great grand parents had the last name of Applewhite, which is supposed to be of Indian heritage. However in the 1870 census they are listed as Black. One of my cousins tried to use this information to lay claim to possible relationship to Indian Tribes that operated the Indian Casinos. He found that one must prove a relationship to a tribe that was on reservations in the 1910 census before one can even file for possible Indian connections.
I recently read a review that claims that many Indians were possible absorbed and/or listed as Blacks or Mulattos in the census records after the 1790 census. The number of free Blacks increased exponentially after 1790 and no one is sure why. One reason may be that some Indians were counted as free Blacks or Mulattos.
You may have Indian or Black blood in your family and it's knowledge was not disclosed.
Calobe Jackson