Why are African-Americans ashamed of their Native American ancestry?

Question

By this, I mean why do they want to deny it? When children ask them about it, why do they get angry and fail to provide a response? Why do they solely identify as African-American and ignore the other part of their heritage? What do "pureblood" natives think about mixed bloods of black, white, hispanic or other descent?

Answer 1

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In all honesty --- because I have never come across
a survey on (or even an individual expression) by a
person who is of the African-American (AA) 'Ethnic'
grouping who appeared to 'deny' or have 'shame'
in regards to their Native American ancestry ---
I cannot agree with the (possibly conjecture-based)
premise of the inquiry that you have presented here.

In addition, I feel that it should be pointed out
that it seems very clear that most of our society
really needs to try to begin to understand that the
'African-American' (AA) 'Ethnic' group is *not* the
same group as the ’Black American' (BA) 'Race' group
-- that the two (2) terms are *not* synonymous and that
the two (2) terms should *not* be used inter-changeably.

We are *not* speaking of ‘semantics’ here – but rather
– the BAs & AAs are two (2) different groups of people.

The AAs are the (largely Mixed-Race) ETHNIC group.

The BAs are the (Mono-Raced) RACE group.

As confusing as it seems -- the U.S. government
[due to racism & wanting to stigmatize the part
of their lineage that was from Africa which, by
the way, is only one (1) part of their lineage] ---

has labeled those individuals who are the known
"descendents of the survivors" of the system of
chattel-slavery found in the USA as being AAs
(the hyphen is used in reference to acknowledging
the fact that most of them are Mixed-Race,
with African & non-African blood lines)

AND

has labeled those people who are "volitional immigrants"
who are directly from places such as the continent of
Africa, the West Indies, etc. -- as being BAs
(with the word 'Black' used in reference to acknowledging
the fact that they are of a Mono-racial full-Black lineage).

In addition, it should also be remembered that – although
some AAs adhere to a socio-political ‘identity’ that is
often described by the slang term of “black”—the AAs
are actually *not* a "Race" group at all -- but rather
they *are* a largely Mixed-Race 'Ethnic' group
(and the socio-political ‘identity’ that a person chooses
*does not* change their racially-mixed ancestral lineage).

Most (+70%) of the people born to two (2) parents who
are of the AA ‘Ethnic’ group are of a ‘Multi-Generational
Multi-Racially ‘Mixed’ (MGM) lineage – while the people
born to two (2) parents who are of the BA ‘Racial’ group –
on the other hand – are of a Mono-Racially ‘Black’ lineage.

There is a big difference between a largely Multi-racial
'Ethnic' group and between a Mono-racial 'Race group.

In addition, there is also a big difference between
one's socio-political 'identity' (ex. "black") and
one's ancestral racial 'lineage' (ex. 'Mixed').

Just because a person adheres to a given
socio-political 'identity' does *not* change
the composition of their ancestral 'lineage'.

Also -- the 'One-Drop' Rule (the false teaching that
'any amount' of Black ancestral lineage make a
person "full black") is nothing more than pure-racism.

The racist 'One-Drop Rule' (used only by the United
States government, by the way) was created during
the antebellum, chattel-slavery era by White racial
supremacist in order to get people to believe the false
racist myth that the so-called White "race" was "pure"
and to falsely view the Black "racial" admixture
(even the slightest amount) within someone's
ancestral lineage as being "tainted".

To embrace the 'One-Drop Rule' is the equivalent of BOTH
embracing "racism" and embracing the false teaching
that a Mixed-Race person's Black lineage is "tainted".

My advice is that a non-Racist should *not* embrace
the concept of the 'One-Drop Rule' -- as "Black blood"
is *not* "tainted" -- and should never be perceived
or embraced as being so (not even in the
name of so-called "pride" and "unity").

In addition, legally-speaking, attempted forcible
application of the racist 'One-Drop Rule' -- against
any individual or group -- was made illegal and ruled
as unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court
in 1967 via the case of 'Loving vs. The State of Virginia'.

Through the 'Loving vs. Virginia' case, the U.S.
Supreme Court, ruled against both all of the laws
banning Interracial marriage -- and -- also ruled
that any so-called law which forcibly applied the
'One Drop Rule' -- was racist, discriminatory,
illegal, unconstitutional, and non-enforcible.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1402
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1400

Related Links:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MGM-Mixed
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FGM-Mixed

------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------

--- Dr. Luigi Caveli-Sforza, who is the Executive
Director of the Human Genome Project and the
world's foremost authority on human genetics
has both tested and proven that more that 70%
of all AAs have a full ancestral lineage which
consists of +20-30% White / European and
more than +25% Amerindian bloodlines.

--- That means that the 'average' (+70%) person
born to two (2) parents who are both members
of the AA Ethnic group actually has slightly
less than 50% Black / African blood lineage
found in his or her full-ancestral lineage.

For more information -- see supporting links listed below:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1399
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1032
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1034
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/991
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1570
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1573

--------------------------- ADDED NOTE ---------------------

It should also be noted that -- contrary to popular belief and
myth spread among many groups who are not educated or
informed on the whole topic -- it was not the group that is
currently being referred to as being the African-Americans
(AAs) -- who chose this term for them -- but rather --
like so many of the other terms used to describe
them -- this term was also implemented by
the United States federal government
(starting with the 1990 United
States 'Census Bureau' Forms).

If a person insists on spreading the 'myth' that it was the
AAs who chose this term for themselves -- it is clearly
indicative of the fact that they have never even once
actually studied the entire topic and are simply basing
their comments on assumption-based ignorance --
rather than objective facts and empirical evidence.

.

Answer 2

I would think that is a case of individualizations; some are proud to claim it. Doesn't really matter, because you will probably never find a "pureblood" any one of any kind. But, tell me: how many white people will admit that they have part *****? I think it would be interesting if everyone had DNA tests done; I have ancestors from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, the Americas and islands from the Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Carribean... But, hey, a lot of African-Americans certainly do not deny Native American ancestry. One of the guys I soldiered with in the Army did his best to trace such ancestry; I helped him as much as I could. Of course, this was before the net... And, many natives are proud of mixed bloods; others want the "pure" variety. Just like everything in life; some approve, some don't approve.

Answer 3

I would think that is a case of individualizations; some are proud to claim it. Doesn't really matter, because you will probably never find a "pureblood" any one of any kind.
But, tell me: how many white people will admit that they have part *****?
I think it would be interesting if everyone had DNA tests done; I have ancestors from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, the Americas and islands from the Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Carribean...
But, hey, a lot of African-Americans certainly do not deny Native American ancestry. One of the guys I soldiered with in the Army did his best to trace such ancestry; I helped him as much as I could. Of course, this was before the net...
And, many natives are proud of mixed bloods; others want the "pure" variety. Just like everything in life; some approve, some don't approve.

Answer 4

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. I don't think I've ever known another African American who got upset if someone asked about whether or not they have any Native American ancestors. I am personally very very proud to count Native Americans among my ancestors. Just as I am proud of the African and European blood in my veins. I have wondered myself why some people of mixed heritage only identify with one or the most prominent part. Also remember that it can often be extremely difficult for descendants of former slaves to find accurate records on their families. Some people have to go by family stories handed down through the years. One reason is that rarely were accurate records of relationship kept by slave owners (often to hide the fact that they had children with slaves). Another is that it was so common for familes to be ripped apart. Point being, that sometimes people just don't know about parts of their heritage that can't be seen just by looking in a mirror.

Answer 5

"Pureblood", what is this supposed to mean?
There is no such thing. Everyone on the planet has a mixed heritage. Africa is a continent made up of many countries and a huge diverse culture. The "indigenous" or "native" people of America came here many thousands of years ago from Asia. Also a very diverse continent made up of many countries and cultures. Forget about the fact that they were not of pureblood before ever leaving. The "Native" Americans lived here for thousands of years with hundreds of various nations and tribes. They coexisted with their neighbors, sometimes warring and other times intermarrying. Then about 500 HUNDRED years ago Euroeans began settling here and they melted into the population of the now United States. Please forget about this pureblood BS and stop stereotyping people. I'm proud of my diverse ancestry. I think I've found just about every "race" of people represented in my family tree. Bigotry, it's not a good thing. Reminds me of a little loudmouthed guy with a moustache.
PS, There is no such thing as different races of people, but for simplicity sake I used the term to make a point. We are all of course, members of the human race, nationalities aside.

Answer 6

Where I come from (the South), black people with Native American or Hispanic ancestry most definitely claim it. It's only being half white or Asian that gets the denial.

Answer 7

For the longest time in THIS country being black was actually BETTER then being Indian. They got recognized as humans, Citizens and the right to vote before we did.

Back when the 'coloreds' had to eat behind the restaurant, they didn't even serve Indians. Some of the signs back then actually said in this order "no coloreds, dogs or Indians".

WE were considered to be below dogs even.

As for 'mixed bloods"
INDIANS do not come in parts, you ARE or ARE NOT Indian. You live your peoples way or you don't.

I've never come across any SKIN that's ever asked me 'are you full blood" it's just not done. I couldn't tell you if it's out of respect or we just don't care. I think we just don't care.

I've been to a lot of pow wows. I'm a Traditional California Dancer. And I've never been carded, or asked for my BQ.

Answer 8

I think you need to think up more profound questions. The blacks don't worry about it and the Seminoles don't worry about. The mix does make for some very beautiful people, however.

Answer 9

African-American, Irish-American, Mexican-American, Chinese-American, etc. I get tired of these terms because we live in a hyphenated society these days. What's wrong with just saying American? Or has that also become politically incorrect?

Answer 10

Chill out! Just accept who you are and don't worry about what any other person acknowledges or doesn't acknowledge.

Answer 11

Oh what the hell are you talking about? stop generalizing. And not every black or "african american" person has native american ancestry....

What it sounds like is that you asked someone and they didn't give you the answer you wanted....deal with it and move on.