'This is 21st Century racism and apartheid': Cherokee Indian tribe expels all slave descendants

dailymail.co.uk ^ | 25 Aug 2011 (updated) | Paul Bentley

[smokingfrog]

The nation's second-largest Indian tribe formally booted from membership thousands of descendants of black slaves who were brought to Oklahoma more than 170 years ago by Native American owners.

The Cherokee nation voted after the Civil War to admit the slave descendants to the tribe.

But on Monday, the tribe's Supreme Court ruled that a 2007 tribal decision to kick the so-called 'Freedmen' out of the tribe could be upheld.

The controversy stems from a footnote in the brutal history of U.S. treatment of Native Americans.

When many Indians were forced to move to what later became Oklahoma from the eastern U.S. in 1838, some who had owned plantations in the South brought along their slaves.

Some 4,000 Indians died during the forced march, which became known as the Trail of Tears.

'And our ancestors carried the baggage,' said Marilyn Vann, the Freedman leader who is a plaintiff in the legal battle.

Officially, there are about 2,800 Freedmen, but another 3,500 have tribal membership applications pending, and there could be as many as 25,000 eligible to enter the tribe, according to Vann.

[smokingfrog]

Maybe they could start their own tribe.

[Mamzelle]

No one ever talks about the Indians who owned slaves, the Jews who owned slaves, and the freed blacks who owned slaves. I think the Cherokees may owe some reparations.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

If the Freedmen start their own tribe, it will known as “The Sue”.

(That’s a legal joke, folks)

[ReneeLynn]

Maybe they could all stop living in the past? Nahhhhh. No money in it.

[Just mythoughts]

No one ever talks about the Indians who owned slaves, the Jews who owned slaves, and the freed blacks who owned slaves. I think the Cherokees may owe some reparations.

You are absolutely correct. I am shocked by these revelations. Now in full disclosure I was told by my grandmother that her grandmother was a 'full-blood' Cherokee. And so some years back I was attempting to located a genealogical record of this woman. I made contact with the powers that be in OK to see IF they might have records... and got a cold response that unless she was on the 'rolls' I had no claim... Thing of it was I was NOT trying to make a claim, I just wanted to find out what I could about this woman.

Obviously this 'word' slave has a very narrow meaning set in time. I am trying to find the correct word to describe what it is to have been place into perpetual bondage/debt by our elected officials.

[max americana]

Yup. Their casinos pretty much scalped the white man of their money.

[freedumb2003]

>>No one ever talks about the Indians who owned slaves, the Jews who owned slaves, and the freed blacks who owned slaves. I think the Cherokees may owe some reparations.<<

And if reparations are ever asked from White America (whatever that is), then White America must ask for reparations from the original slavers — African tribes.

[freedumb2003]

>> I am trying to find the correct word to describe what it is to have been place into perpetual bondage/debt by our elected officials. <<

“Homeowner.”

[CT]

Once met the Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller. It was a real honor to meet her and a number of the tribe's leaders.

I'm sure money isn't involved in this demand to be counted among the tribe. But after reading the article, and from only a few pictures, it didn't look like the Freedmen'inter-married into the tribe. But in reality, maybe I am wrong. Set me straight if you know.

[arrogantsob]

“No one ever...” not really true. It is no secret. When the VP of the Cornfederacy was a Jew who could ignore it?

[Hugin]

Just a hunch, but do ya think this might have anything to do with casino money?

[Borough Park]

Uh, yeah - the more that is in the tribe, the more the loot has to spread around.

[RowdyFFC]

I suspect sharing the casino money with a possible 25,000 new tribesmen might have something to do with it. It might also have something to do with the 25,000 new applicants thinking they’re going to get casino money.

My children’s Dad gets a check from the Nation every year, I don’t know how much it is, but way back when it was $25 from oil revenues. But neither he nor his parents lived on the reservation under Nation laws, and that may have something to do with it. The mostly full blood heritage Cherokees that live on the reservation get a lot of benefits, especially in housing from the Nation. His Mom was of full blood Cherokee heritage, but his Dad was only half. My grandkids are the last in line to be able claim the heritage and they don’t get any revenue as their heritage is diluted.

[Grimmy]

The more folk they can cut from the casino income distributions, the more grand mansions available for those still on “the list”.

[DakotaRed]

“Removal from the membership rolls means the Freedmen will no longer be eligible for free health care and other benefits such as education concessions.”

‘Nuff said!

[Squantos]

To late ....already a blackfoot tribe.

[wardaddy]

yea but you should go on some of those sites that Jewish kids run about notables "who are Jewish or not?"

and listen to them howl and parse and make excuses when the name Judah P Benjamen comes up...it's hilarious but sad...their ignorance

we southerners were pretty cool with our Jewish homies in antebellum days...they were more fellow travelers then than now politically

A must read for those interested..I have a few other more obscure writings on old Jews in the south...you would be surprised at the number of temples in little towns and the Jewish part of the old South Carolina constitution granting Jews specific religious freedoms

[wardaddy]

For the record...from what I can glean on this...I think the black Cherokees got the shaft. It doesn’t seem right

I want all NeoYankees and race baiters here who call me racist day in and day out to take note.

thanks

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Cherokees fielded army units for the Confederacy—the First and Second Mounted Rifles—many fought at Elk Horn Tavern for the south. The last Confederate General to surrender was a Cherokee. They supported the Lost Cause in hopes that they could, after the south won the war, become a state of their own in the CSA.

[Belasarius]

It's not all about Casino money. There are all kinds of government benefits that go along with being a bonafide native american. But, they decide who is and who isn't and whether or not you get the id card that makes it all happen. There are scholarships, health-care, and government jobs reserved for native americans that all go along with the designation.

But, of course, if it was just about government money it probably wouldn't be an issue. Before there was casino money there was oil money too.