Black slave owners

[BLUEHAWK]

Jerry -
Interesting, your experiences too.
There are, or were more so in earlier years of my family (now that the elders are all but gone), a lot of both Irish and Cherokee bigotry stories told... I think that's why the folks moved from the far east coast inland to start with (which is probably where they began meeting Cherokee), and then once they settled in and about the Ozarks there were lots of Irish and Cherokee get togethers throughout (at least) the 19th century. In the early to mid-20th century the maternal side of the family made every effort possible to conceal their native heritage, even to the extent of using lighter colored make-up and taking no part whatsoever in tribal activities... though they sometimes lived right near places like Tallequah, on the rez. I'm sure they had their reasons to do so, but much later in their lives a rare few of them did say a few things that came closer to the truth. Nowadays, of course, people are practically walking over one another to locate a scintilla of The Blood in their veins... mainly to enjoy the economic benefits, such as they are.

I, too, am exceedingly grateful to them.