As you can see the photo above is a photo of White Eagle along with Ponca. Ponca De Leon was a explorer, I found traces of him being in South Carolina also. This is what has been said about him.
{ It seems that as soon as Europeans showed up on the coasts of the United States, they started reading from a formal document called the Requierimento that declared themselves to be Christians and by nature superior to the uncivilized heathens that they encountered.6 The indigenous people were then informed by the Requierimento that if they accepted Christianity they would become the Christian's slaves in exchange for the gift of salvation; if they did not accept the gospel of Christianity, they would still become slaves but that their plight would be much worse.7 Everywhere that explorers such as Ponce De Leon, Vazquez De Ayllon, and Hernando De Soto went on their "explorations" throughout the American Southeast, they carried with them bloodhounds, chains, and iron collars for the acquisition and exportation of Indian slaves.8 A Cherokee from Oklahoma remembered his father's tale of the Spanish slave trade, "At an early state the Spanish engaged in the slave trade on this continent and in so doing kidnapped hundreds of thousands of the Indians from the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts to work their mines in the West Indies."9}
We hear all this talk about Africans being slaves but there is very little talk about the first slaves. The African people were not the first slaves in America! The first slaves were the Native Americans. It’s said that from the minute white folks set foot on the coast of the United States they started gathering Natives to work for them. The draw backs with having the Native Americans for slaves were, they knew the land, so they knew all the hiding places and most of all they stood together. Unlike the Africans they had families here and if they could get away they were gone. Like everything else there are {2} sides to every coin but some folk’s just see one side. The Native American’s suffered, the Africans who were stolen from their families and brought to a strange place to be made slaves suffered, and the poor white folks who were treated no better than slaves suffered. Back then anyone who was different suffered at the hands of folks who thought they we better.
These are lessons that we should never forget. We should all treat folks with honor. You don’t have to like them, you don’t have to agree with them; but in order to get RESPECT you have to give RESPECT. Momma Starr
Excellent post!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, it always fascinates me how certain people just push the Indians aside as if they had little to no contribution. Also, the "poor white folks" were the Scott-Irish who came over in the 1800s and contributed A LOT to the practice. And they settled all of the South, not just in the area of the Appalachians or even the Ozarks. Thanks for this. :)
Thank you. Your welcome. Momma Starr
ReplyDeleteVery good reminder indeed. I was brought up with the notion that even if you don't like someone, always use your manners and that a bit of politeness can go a long way. And if they come at you, don't let them walk all over you either. A very important lesson early on in my life that I haven't forgotten.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that now days folks have every little respect for one another. I was brought up as you were and I always try to follow the lessons I was taught as a child. Momma Starr
ReplyDelete@DocConjure: What you say is true because many Black folks have IRISH blood in their families and Irish last names. This obviously shows some mingling not only of cultures but also spiritual practices. :) I think this is one of those things that's maybe acknowledged but not talked about much.
ReplyDeleteIn Texas there's a long history of Irish immigration from times gone by and in Louisianna where they're called "swamp Irish."