Hello all.
I work with the Smithsonian Museum. A collaborative exhibition between
the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Indian and the National
Museum of African American History and Culture is being planned on the
subject of "Black Indians" -- shared history between African Americans
and Native Americans.
We are interested in finding out people's perspectives, opinions,
suggestions, insights and thoughts on this subject and the forthcoming
exhibition. And hopefully generate a discussion that will help us in the
formative stage of the exhibition planning.
Would you all be interested in taking part in the survey? Thank you.
Rama.
* Have you heard anything about the Black Indians (shared history between African Americans and Native Americans)? What does this subject mean to you?*How would you define this phrase?*Have you heard family and community stories that might relate to this subject?* How does this history play out in different cultural expressions – now and in the past?* If a child has one parent who identifies herself/himself as African American and another as Native American, how would you categorize that child in terms of race?* What is your age, gender and how do you categorize yourself racially?* The Smithsonian is planning an exhibition on the subject? What would you like to see in such an exhibition? Where do you think this exhibition needs to be presented?
I'm not sure if my response will help, but I'm sure one is better than none...
* Have you heard anything about the Black Indians (shared history between African Americans and Native Americans)? What does this subject mean to you?
No, I haven't heard anything about Black Indians. To my knowledge, I don't have any Indians in my family, so the subject doesn't hit close enough to home to mean much. I'm sure there's a small percentage of Indian blood somewhere in my family, but I'm unaware of it.
*How would you define this phrase?
I would define the phrase as a time when African Americans and Native Americans coexisted very closely and during that time, the races became mixed. I would somewhat parallel that time with slavery, when African Americans and Caucasians "mixed".
*Have you heard family and community stories that might relate to this subject?
No, I haven't.
* How does this history play out in different cultural expressions – now and in the past?
At first glance, the history of both cultures are those of indebtedness. Both cultures have been wronged in one way or another and I can see that the situation causes us to show some "aggression"(for lack of a better word) towards those responsible. It may not be a **** aggression but it may be shown in a way that you express when you feel something is owed to you.
* If a child has one parent who identifies herself/himself as African American and another as Native American, how would you categorize that child in terms of race?
Which ever race will afford the child a better opportunity at the time. I would see it as hard to choose between the two for general purposes.
* What is your age, gender and how do you categorize yourself racially?
29, Male, Black
* The Smithsonian is planning an exhibition on the subject? What would you like to see in such an exhibition? Where do you think this exhibition needs to be presented?
I would like to see how the two cultures came together, what made them come together, where was the mix more prevelant, etc. I would like to see it in the Native American Smithsonian Museum.
