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AALBC.com's Thumper's Corner Discussion Board » Culture, Race & Economy - Archive 2007 » Cherokee tribes expells Black members!!! « Previous Next »

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Serenasailor
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Post Number: 1375
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Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 04:35 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Native American Cherokees voted to expel descendants of black slaves from their tribe nation in a special election that has prompted charges of racism, according to returns made public early Sunday.

But a vote of 77 percent to 23 percent, the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma adopted Saturday an amendment to their constitution that strips membership from so-called "Freedmen," those descended from slaves once owned by Cherokees, blacks who were married to Cherokees and children of mixed-race families.

"The Cherokee people exercised the most basic democratic right, the right to vote," Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, said in a statement. "Their voice is clear as to who should be citizens of the Cherokee Nation. No one else has the right to make that determination."

However, opponents of the amendment say it was a racist project designed to deny the distribution of US government funds and tribal revenue to those with African-American heritage, US media reported.

"This is a sad chapter in Cherokee history," Taylor Keen, a Cherokee tribal council member who opposes the amendment, told the New York Times.

"But this is not my Cherokee Nation. My Cherokee Nation is one that honors all parts of her past."

Advocates of changing the 141-year-old treaty rules defining who is a Cherokee say the tribal nation has a sovereign right to decide citizenship and that other tribes base membership on blood lines.

The Cherokee Nation, which ranks as the second-largest tribe behind the Navajo, has some 250,000 to 270,000 members and is growing rapidly. Members are entitled to benefits from the US federal government and tribal services, including medical and housing aid and scholarships.

Cherokees, along with several other tribes, held black slaves and allied themselves with the Confederacy during the US civil war. After the war, the federal government in an 1866 treaty ordered the slaves freed.

In 1983, the Cherokee Nation expelled many descendants of slaves as members but a Cherokee tribunal ruled last year that the Freedmen were fully-fledged citizens with voting rights. That court decision prompted Saturday's special vote.

Native American tribes recognized by the United States government have the right to self-determination and authority similar to US states.

Election results will remain unofficial until certified by the Cherokee Nation Election Commission, but officials said percentages were not expected to change significantly.

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Serenasailor
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Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 04:35 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

THATS F*CKED UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!!
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Serenasailor
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Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 04:42 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I wonder if they are voting out all of the White, mixed Cherokee ppl as well???

Interesting!!!
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Serenasailor
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Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 05:29 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

MAYBE THEY, LIKE ME GOT TIRED OF BLACK FOLKS CLAIMING TO BE INDIAN AS WELL!!!! HA! HA! HA!
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Robynmarie
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Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 05:41 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

This is beyond disappointing.

It is not a matter of black folks claiming to be Indian, rather the other way around. At one point in their history, they needed to count black folks among their tribe for numbers sake, but now no more.

It's like the black Cherokees have lost part of their heritage. Very messed up.
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Mzuri
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Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 05:44 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)


Screw them. The Black Cherokees can form their own damn nation. Maybe they can even get their own reservations.
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Ntfs_encryption
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Post Number: 1948
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Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 01:10 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

"MAYBE THEY, LIKE ME GOT TIRED OF BLACK FOLKS CLAIMING TO BE INDIAN AS WELL!!!!"

Good point. I thought I was the only one who felt that way. I have grown tired to the point of irritation when I hear Negroes bragging and pontificating about the so-called Indian in their blood. It never ceases to amaze me how some Negroes desperately attempt to impress others with their so-called "mixture". I grew up in Ohio hearing this nonsense all my life.

I have no problems with any one's genetics because no one chooses their sex, race or ethnicity. But I find it ironic how Negroes will brag about their so-called Indian blood while I doubt seriously if any Indian would brag about possible "black" blood in their genealogy. And yes, I'm sure me stating this will enrage some of the Negroes of this board who take immense pride in their alleged Indian heritage. Too bad.....

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Grind
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Post Number: 177
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Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 08:31 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

"I have no problems with any one's genetics because no one chooses their sex, race or ethnicity. But I find it ironic how Negroes will brag about their so-called Indian blood while I doubt seriously if any Indian would brag about possible "black" blood in their genealogy."

LOL Too true.

And ironically, Cherokee was 9 out of 10 times the tribe that I heard negroes claiming to be descended from.
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Abm
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Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 08:40 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I recall witnessing on C-SPAN a few years ago that over 80% of those classified as Native American have some NON-Indian blood. If that's true with respect to the Cherokee Nation, what is the REAL reason for expelling its members (who just happen to have Black blood)?
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Chrishayden
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Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 11:57 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Screw them. The Black Cherokees can form their own damn nation. Maybe they can even get their own reservations.

(Now THIS is a sista who is taking the right attitude to this crap--

Rap, Godmother!)
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Cynique
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Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 12:58 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Native Americans are regarded as the "noble savage", and they hold a special romantisized place in the annals of the American spectrum. Many whites also brag about having Indian blood. Few black folks brag about having white blood. So there is a difference.
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Schakspir
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Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 02:07 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Abm: I recall witnessing on C-SPAN a few years ago that over 80% of those classified as Native American have some NON-Indian blood. If that's true with respect to the Cherokee Nation, what is the REAL reason for expelling its members (who just happen to have Black blood)?

Schakspir: Money. The Cherokees don't want black people claiming any Cherokee heritage and using that as an alibi to get their hands on any of their casino earnings.
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Abm
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Post Number: 8633
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Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 02:48 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Schakspir: "Money. The Cherokees don't want black people claiming any Cherokee heritage and using that as an alibi to get their hands on any of their casino earnings."


...in a frickin' NUTSHELL!
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Ntfs_encryption
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Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 04:11 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

"The Cherokees don't want black people claiming any Cherokee heritage and using that as an alibi to get their hands on any of their casino earnings."

Well, with that said, I think you just closed this thread out Schakspir. E'nuff said..........

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Mzuri
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Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 04:25 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)


I wonder if the Black Cherokees have the right to file a petition in the federal court system for a discrimination/EEO action.
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Chrishayden
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Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 12:04 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I knew some blacks from Oklahoma and they hated Indians.
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Abm
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Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 07:21 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Chris,

Why? Because of what Schakspir alluded to: Blacks were cut out of those Indian casino profits?
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Urban_scribe
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Post Number: 373
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Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 09:45 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Mzuri wrote:

I wonder if the Black Cherokees have the right to file a petition in the federal court system for a discrimination/EEO action.

I don't think Black Cherokees would have any recourse in any US Federal Court against the Cherokee nation, or any other American Indian nation for that matter.

If my understanding is correct, the US gov't recognizes reservations as "free, sovereign nations." In other words, reservations have their own gov't and laws separate from those of the United States. Even though they are physically located on US soil, reservations are recognized as pretty much being their own distinct countries. The US cannot interfere. Well, I suppose the US gov't COULD interfere, but chooses not to if doing so is not to the US's benefit.

So I don't think Black Cherokees would be able to "go over their head" by bringing a discrimination suit against the Cherokee nation in the US courts. Recourse, if any, would have to be appealed to the Cherokee nation itself. But since they already voted and made their position clear, I doubt they will overturn their decision just because Black Indians are angry about being treated unfairly. What else is new?

Thing is, there aren't enough Black Indians who are LEGALLY recognized as being such to have strength in numbers. There are many, many Black Indians GENETICALLY, but LEGALLY is a different story. So, just like in the US, American Indian nations can afford to overlook and dismiss the needs and best interests of Blacks amongst them because of the dismal numbers of the LEGAL Black Indian population.

But I agree that this all comes down to having to share the wealth. When it gets down to the nitty gritty, money, and the power it brings, is the only LAW that counts.
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Abm
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Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 10:05 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Urban_scribe,

One of my best friends does a lot of Federal work with Native Americans. And his explanations to me of how things work between the United States and Native Americans suggest that what you present is pretty much dead-on.

The only shot the Black Cherokee have are to be recognized by the US as, as you describe, a "free, sovereign nation", which I figure there's a snowball's chance of the hot side of hell of occurring.
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Toubobie
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Post Number: 231
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Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 01:04 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

i am SO happy those NEGROS gout ousted. When will we realize that noone gives a fruck about "da indian in dey family" but their own ignant *sses? I sent this story to a close friend of mine, and he nearly came to tears. We are such a self-hating mixed up sorry bunch of f*cks. The world mocks our wretchedness and self-loathing.

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