i dont understand why they always say that. Is it to take away their guilt trip on how their ancestors treated the native americans?
2006-07-29 07:47:29 · 29 answers · asked by evie a 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
A lot of white people are part Cherokee....I don't see how saying that is a bad thing. It's like a person saying they are part black, arabic, white, asian, etc.
2006-07-29 07:52:07 · answer #1 · answered by Princess 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, if they ARE part Cherokee, then they have a right to say so! Many people admire the Native Americans very much, and are very proud of this. Why shouldn't they say what they are?
And why should any of us feel guilt over that part of history? We have no control over what our ancestors did. Some of them were very good to the Native Americans, so we don't know if our particular ancestors were bad to them or not!
Unfortunately, nobody can see into the future. The American settlers and pioneers were living in a situation they did not fully understand.... just like all of us are today.
I say... get over it. It's too bad that happened, but life goes on.
2006-07-29 07:53:21 · answer #2 · answered by mia2kl2002 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Cherokee lived in the southeastern United States. They were one of the most civilized of the American Indians. They had their own alphabet, and lived in normal homes. Their culture allowed them to mix easily with the Europeans. But the American frontier needed their land and they forced the Cherokee to move. Many would not, they mixed and married with the white European settlers. So today we have many white people who say they are part Cherokee... and they may well be right!
2006-07-29 08:23:44 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In some cases, it could be that they just wish they were part Cherokee, but most of them are telling the truth. There was a lot of intermarriage between whites and natives in history. Sometimes the tribes encouraged their women to marry white men to secure trading relations. Some tribes did this more than others. I'm part Cree and Ojibway myself, as well as French and other "white" tribes, although I think the native in my features should be obvious, some narrow minded and bigoted people go around telling everyone who isn't brown skinned they have to call themselves white. This is offensive, especially because in native culture it's very important for us to show respect for our ancestors.
2006-07-29 08:01:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Cherokee tribe were also known as the "white indians," and I think the reason so many white lay claim to this as their heritage is because they want to feel like they actually have a history, come from something important, know what I mean? The only whites (or any race) who actually has a right to claim the Cherokee Nation as a part of their bloodline are those who can prove it through family records dating generationally back to the Dawes Roll and the Trail of Tears. I for one have, through the help of my relatives, traced my ancestry back to the Dawes Role and can say truthfully that I am Welsh/German/Cherokee.
For more info on the Cherokee Nation, please visit: http://www.cherokee.org/
2006-07-29 08:20:45 · answer #5 · answered by Jylsamynne 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why, didn't you get the memo. It's been mandated by congress. If you don't say you're part Cherokee nowa days you could really get into trouble. Listen, I was in Wal-Mart the other day, and that's all you heard. In fact, Wal-Mart has made that their official greeting. The guy at the door no longer says good afternoon, he says 'I'm part Cherokee.' When I got to the check out counter, the checker said, 'I'm part Cherokee,' and the customer said the same thing. I forget sometimes, but I always go back in and say it. You need to get with the program.
2006-07-29 08:00:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
If someone says they are part Cherokee, it is probably because their ancestors banged an Indian. I dont know if it is a guilt trip thing. They are most likely just proud of it.
2006-07-29 08:01:27 · answer #7 · answered by ↓ImWithStupid ░░▒▒▓▓ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Personally, I only recall trailer people saying that, (probably because their ancestor's were offspring of some white man/ Indian woman or white woman/Indian man.)
I've always wondered why a lot of the trailer white people have a ruddy tan look to their skin.
2006-07-29 07:52:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know, but I REALLY am part Cherokee - I am from North Carolina, and my great-grandmother was as close to a full-blooded Indian as anyone ever gets anymore. Besides, there is no such thing as someone who is 100% Native American anymore...inter-breeding has taken its toll.
2006-07-29 07:51:04 · answer #9 · answered by Julia L. 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Indians are cool and exciting!
And because just being white is kinda boring.
Being part black just gets people thrown in jail.
Being part Mexican (which would also mean you were part Indian) would get you taken off all the cool party invite list.
So being part Cherokee makes you "ethnic", cool and you get to keep your current friends.
2006-07-29 09:58:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋