November 01, 2024
Native News
A Funny Thing Happened On My Way to Review the Munsee Petition Advocating Against Slavery in North America on Google this Week!
November marks the beginning of Native American History Month. Earlier this week, while seeking information on Google concerning North American Native's Petitions against slavery that used to be easy to pull up on Google. My research ran into an entirely new agenda, claiming that all indigenous tribes of North America supported the lifetime enslavement of Africans, plus brought and sold Africans, which is a lie, especially since native Americans sat next to enslaved Africans while being enslaved themselves.
This report seeks to shed light on this aspect of American history with November being Native American History Month makes this report by the relaunched Echo crucial for several reasons. First, it helps to provide a more complete and accurate understanding of the complexities of oppression and resistance in the United States. By recognizing the experiences of Native Americans alongside those of African Americans, we can appreciate the interconnectedness of their struggles for freedom and justice.
Please click the link to view the mini-documentary: https://www.echonewstv.com/about
Additionally, highlighting these narratives can foster a sense of solidarity among different marginalized groups. It emphasizes that the fight against injustice is not isolated but rather a shared struggle that spans different cultures and histories. This understanding can inspire contemporary movements for social justice and equality, encouraging collaboration and mutual support.
Furthermore, acknowledging the role of Native Americans in the fight against slavery challenges dominant narratives that often erase Indigenous nations' contributions and experiences in North America. It allows for a more inclusive portrayal of history that honors all voices, reinforcing the idea that everyone’s history is intertwined. This awareness can also help combat stereotypes and misconceptions about both Native American and African American histories here in North America.
In summary, the relaunched Echo, New Jersey's oldest Black-owned newspaper, shedding light on this overlooked history enriches our understanding of the past, fosters solidarity among oppressed groups, and promotes a more inclusive narrative that acknowledges the complexity of American heritage.
A Little History:
The complex relationship between America and the welfare of its Black citizens has roots that extend back to the abolition of African chattel slavery in 1863. This pivotal change occurred after the Indian Removal Act, which happened between 1830 and 1850, but lingered after that per the forced assimilation of Native people in North America by the Child Removal Act. Many Indigenous tribes in North America, with varying perspectives, had significant concerns about the implications of penal colonization and the practice of chattel slavery on their lands. Within Indigenous communities, there were individuals of mixed heritage who had differing views on slavery, and their experiences are part of a larger, often overlooked narrative in North American history. This article will focus on these interconnected histories while respecting their complexity. (Picture of "Colored Regiment" :Wix Unsplash Library of Congress)
President Biden to apologize for 150-year Indian boarding school policy https://www.britannica.com/news/1357826/701872132d7f191973d54cd05286ef75 - The Forgotten History of the Native Americans Who Helped the Underground Railroad https://time.com/5681533/native-americans-underground-railroad/
In the beginning
Before and after the Revolutionary War, the relationship between England and Indigenous leaders was complicated by broken treaties, making it difficult to manage the penal colonists sent from England. From 1700 to 1775, approximately 250,000 to 300,000 white penal colonists arrived on the North American mainland as part of the "Transportation Act of 1717," which aimed to provide labor in partnership with Native American leaders. A significant majority, over two-thirds of White penal colonists, were sent to the Chesapeake region to work for Southern landowners in Maryland during the three decades leading up to 1776.
A study from Brown University, titled "Colonial Enslavement of Native Americans," authored by Gillian Kiley on February 15, 2017, highlights that "Native American slavery" is an often-overlooked aspect of slavery's history. Research from Linford D. Fisher's report, "Why Shall Wee Have Peace to Bee Made Slaves": Indian Surrenderers During and After King Philip's War," indicates that between 1492 and 1880, between 2 and 5.5 million Native Americans were enslaved in the Americas, in addition to 12.5 million Africans. A key distinction is that for Native Americans aged five and younger, enslavers extended their servitude until they turned 30 years old.
Hence, it can be argued that Native Nations, having experienced enslavement themselves, would have had a vested interest in advocating for the abolition of slavery. Regardless of their background or ethnicity, enslaved individuals often shared a common desire for freedom and autonomy. The hardships faced by Native Americans during colonial times, particularly their own experiences of enslavement and displacement, cultivated a sense of solidarity with Africans. In fact, Indigenous people in North America often played a significant role in aiding those seeking freedom.
Moreover, if Native Americans were involved in the fight for their own rights and freedoms, it stands to reason that they would support broader movements aimed at ending slavery altogether. Their advocacy could have been driven not only by personal experiences but also by a collective understanding of the injustices faced by all enslaved peoples. Thus, the interconnected histories of Indigenous people and African Americans led to collaborative efforts to challenge and ultimately seek the abolition of slavery. However, there are exceptions to the rule, such as with the history of specific populations of Mexicans & Cherokees who partnered with Confederates before and after the Civil War. They are the exception, not the rule or norm. This is the problem with Google's false representation of 1st Nation tribes in North America being okay with enslaving the human race for life.
(Native Flute Pic Source: Wix Media)
The enslavement of individuals in North America resulted in a diverse population of African and Native American descent, giving rise to families identified as "Mulatto," "Black," or "People of Color." If these populations were allowed to grow, they could potentially surpass the number of colonists, which contributed to the enactment of "The Indian Removal Act of 1830." Furthermore, the fact that indigenous enslaved individuals gained their freedom at the age of 30 serves as evidence of how formerly enslaved families were able to secure the freedom of their relatives by petitioning the courts. This is illustrated by the research titled "A Plea for Freedom: Enslaved Independence Through Petitions for Freedom in Washington D.C. Between 1810 and 1830."
Gif Google Source: Wix Gif
Google could potentially face criticism for not adequately highlighting the role of Native Americans in the Underground Railroad for several reasons:
1. **Historical Recognition**: Native Americans played a significant role in aiding enslaved individuals seeking freedom. Their contributions are often overshadowed or omitted from mainstream narratives. By not sharing this history, Google misses an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the diverse actors involved in the fight against slavery.
2. **Educational Responsibility**: As a major source of information, Google is responsible for providing a comprehensive and accurate portrayal of history. When certain groups’ contributions are marginalized, it perpetuates a skewed understanding of historical events, which can lead to a lack of awareness about important cultural and social dynamics.
3. **Promoting Inclusivity**: Highlighting the involvement of Native Americans in the Underground Railroad could foster greater Inclusivity and understanding among various communities. It underscores the collaborative efforts across different cultures in the pursuit of freedom, which is an important lesson in unity and allyship.
4. **Correcting Historical Narratives**: Many narratives about the Underground Railroad primarily focus on African American figures, often neglecting the alliances formed with Native communities. By failing to incorporate these perspectives, important aspects of the broader struggle for justice and equality are lost.
5. **Cultural Sensitivity**: Acknowledging the contributions of Native Americans can also serve as a form of reparative justice, recognizing the historical injustices faced by North American Indigenous peoples and making strides towards rectifying the historical narrative.
In summary, if Google neglects to present the vital role of Native Americans in the Underground Railroad, and the abolition movement against chattel slavery it could be seen as a missed opportunity to enrich public knowledge and foster a more inclusive historical narrative.
References:
Transportation Act of 1717." https://www.jstor.org/stable/1920428
A Plea for Freedom: Enslaved Independence Through Petitions for Freedom in Washington D.C. Between 1810 and 1830."-https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1052&context=historydiss#:~:text=purposefully%20and%20unintentionally%2C%20blurred%20the,enslaved%20argued%20for%20their%20freedom
"The Washington Administration Civilization Program" for natives of 1820 as well. https://www.nps.gov/articles/civilizing-native-people.htm:
The Forgotten History of the Native Americans Who Helped the Underground Railroad
Sacred colors of the Lenni Lenape: Red & Black
"Colonial enslavement of Native Americans included those who surrendered, too"
NWS Earle NJ Held A Black History Commemoration For Local Colored Troops From The Civil War & Beyond
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