The Wild West is often seen as a time of adventure and expansion, but its history is much more diverse and complex than the typical black-and-white narrative suggests. The American West is a tapestry of intertwined cultures and histories, particularly involving Black and Native American communities.
I’m Elena Roberts, an assistant professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh. My research focuses on the intersection of Black and Native American lives in North America. The shared history of these communities in the Old West stretches back hundreds of years, with significant events occurring in what is now Oklahoma, once known as Indian Territory.
Growing up, I often visited Oklahoma, but it wasn’t until college that I began to explore my identity and family history. With a PhD in hand, I delved into the lesser-known narratives of the West, particularly how Black and mixed-race individuals were enslaved by Native Americans. This aspect of North American slavery is not widely discussed, and I sought to understand its complexities and connections to Native American history.
This intricate story dates back to before European contact, during the height of an ancient Native American society. The Five Tribes—Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole—are part of the Muskogean language family, often linked to the Mississippian culture. Their roots trace back to Cahokia, a pre-Columbian city that thrived from around 700 to 1100 A.D. Cahokia was a bustling metropolis with advanced agriculture and infrastructure.
By 1350, Cahokia was mysteriously abandoned, leading to the fragmentation of Native society into the Five Tribes. When European colonists arrived, they encountered these tribes in the Southeast, where cultural exchanges occurred. Members of the Five Tribes began adopting European practices, including Christianity, farming, and chattel slavery.
Those of African descent enslaved by some members of the Five Tribes learned tribal languages, cooked Native American food, and formed familial bonds with their Native American owners. By cultural standards, these enslaved individuals were as much a part of Native American society as their owners.
Despite treaties affirming their sovereignty, the Five Tribes’ Southeastern homelands were not safe from U.S. government actions. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced thousands of Native people and their enslaved individuals to relocate to present-day Oklahoma. This journey, known as the Trail of Tears, was a devastating experience for both Native Americans and enslaved Black people.
By 1861, thousands of enslaved Black individuals lived in Indian Territory. Their treatment varied, with some Native owners granting autonomy while others imposed harsh conditions. As southern states seceded, the Confederacy sought alliances with the Five Tribes, and some tribal members sided with the South.
My great-great-grandmother, Jesse Jackson, was of mixed-race ancestry—Black, white, and Chickasaw. Her story represents a unique form of emancipation in Indian Territory. She was not freed by the Emancipation Proclamation or the 13th Amendment because she was part of the Chickasaw Nation, a sovereign Indian Nation.
Ultimately, the Confederacy and their allies lost to the United States. Freedom for Jesse and others came through the treaties of 1866, which also granted land allotments to those formerly enslaved by the Five Tribes. These treaties required the Five Tribes to grant citizenship to the freedmen, allowing them to establish communities and own land.
As I researched my family history, I realized the significance of our land ownership. Many African Americans cannot trace their family history as far back as I can, nor do they have land that has been in their family for generations. However, this land was originally taken from Native people, complicating the narrative of Native American slaveholding and Black land ownership.
After years of research, I compiled this complex story in my book, “I’ve Been Here All the While: Black Freedom on Native Land.” It explores the intertwined histories of Black and Native American experiences, emphasizing the importance of land in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Much of the story of the freedmen and their descendants has been lost over time, and disputes over territory and recognition have divided these shared experiences. While the Chickasaw Nation did not grant citizenship to my family, the other four tribes did. However, in the 1970s and 80s, as Native American nations regained autonomy, many former slaves were disenrolled and lost recognition as members of their communities.
Many descendants of the freedmen, like myself, continue to fight for recognition of our tribal membership while acknowledging the shared experiences of oppression that both peoples endured. I hope that by bringing these complex stories to light, we can achieve recognition and reconciliation among our communities.
Thank you.
Research a specific event or figure related to the intersection of Black and Native American histories in the Old West. Prepare a short presentation to share with your classmates, highlighting the significance of your chosen topic and its impact on the broader historical narrative.
Create an interactive map that traces the movement of the Five Tribes and their enslaved individuals during the Trail of Tears. Use historical data to mark significant locations and events, and present your map to the class, explaining the historical context and its implications.
Read selected chapters from “I’ve Been Here All the While: Black Freedom on Native Land” by Elena Roberts. Form a discussion group to explore the themes of land ownership, identity, and the complex relationships between Black and Native American communities. Share your insights and reflections with the class.
Engage in a role-playing debate where you assume the roles of different historical figures from the Five Tribes, Black freedmen, and U.S. government officials. Debate the issues of sovereignty, land rights, and citizenship, using historical evidence to support your arguments.
Write a short story or poem from the perspective of an individual living in Indian Territory during the 19th century. Focus on the themes of identity, freedom, and cultural integration. Share your creative work with the class and discuss the historical accuracy and emotional impact of your narrative.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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The Wild West defined a time and shaped the country, but the West never left. It’s much easier to think of history in terms of black and white, but ultimately, the American West is far more diverse and interesting.
I’m Elena Roberts, an assistant professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh, and my work revolves around the intersection of Black and Native American life in North America. The entwined experiences of Black and Native people in the Old West extend back hundreds of years, with key moments of this shared history happening right here in Oklahoma, formerly known as Indian Territory.
I grew up visiting Oklahoma as a child, focused on playing with friends and cousins, without fully appreciating the rich history shared by my elders. It was only later, during college, that I began to explore my identity. With a PhD, I turned my analytical eye toward my own roots and discovered a story rarely told in the histories of the West. My exploration began with my family’s history, particularly how Black and mixed-race individuals were enslaved by Native Americans, which is not the usual narrative of North American slavery. I wanted to understand how this was different and how it intersected with Native American history.
This complex story dates back hundreds of years, before contact with Europeans, to the height of an ancient Native American society. The Five Tribes—Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole—are historically significant and are part of the Muskogean language family, often referred to as Mississippian culture. They trace their roots back to a place now known as Cahokia, a pre-Columbian city that thrived around 700 to 1100 A.D. Cahokia was a large metropolis, advanced for its time, with agriculture and plumbing.
At its height, Cahokia was home to over 20,000 people. It’s important to emphasize that there was a thriving civilization in North America before Europeans arrived. However, by 1350, Cahokia was mysteriously abandoned, and the larger Native society fragmented into the Five Tribes. The earliest European colonists encountered these tribes in the Southeast, where relationships evolved. Members of the Five Tribes began adopting European practices, including Christianity, farming, and chattel slavery.
Those of African descent who were enslaved by some members of the Five Tribes spoke tribal languages, cooked Native American food, and formed familial bonds with their Native American owners. By any cultural metric, those who were enslaved were just as much Native American as those who owned them.
Despite treaties affirming their sovereignty, the Southeastern homelands of the Five Tribes were not safe from the U.S. government. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to the forced relocation of thousands of Native people and their enslaved individuals from the Southeast to what is now Oklahoma. This journey, known as the Trail of Tears, was a harrowing experience for both Native Americans and the enslaved Black people.
By 1861, thousands of enslaved Black individuals lived in Indian Territory. Their treatment varied widely, with some Native owners allowing autonomy while others imposed harsh punishments. As southern states seceded, the Confederacy sought alliances with the Five Tribes, and some tribal members chose to fight alongside the South.
My great-great-grandmother, Jesse Jackson, was of mixed-race ancestry—Black, white, and Chickasaw. She represents the unique emancipation that occurred in Indian Territory. She was not freed by the Emancipation Proclamation or the 13th Amendment because she was part of the Chickasaw Nation, a sovereign Indian Nation.
Ultimately, the Confederacy and their allies lost to the United States. Freedom came for Jesse and others through the treaties of 1866, which also granted land allotments to those formerly enslaved by the Five Tribes. These treaties mandated that the Five Tribes grant citizenship to the freedmen, allowing them to establish communities and own land.
As I researched my family history, I realized the significance of our land ownership. Many African Americans cannot trace their family history as far back as I can, nor do they have land that has been in their family for generations. However, this land was originally taken from Native people, complicating the narrative of Native American slaveholding and Black land ownership.
After years of research, I was able to weave together this complex story in my book, “I’ve Been Here All the While: Black Freedom on Native Land.” It explores the intertwined histories of Black and Native American experiences, emphasizing the importance of land in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Much of the story of the freedmen and their descendants has been lost over time, and disputes over territory and recognition have divided these shared experiences. While the Chickasaw Nation did not grant citizenship to my family, the other four tribes did. However, in the 1970s and 80s, as Native American nations regained autonomy, many former slaves were disenrolled and lost recognition as members of their communities.
Many descendants of the freedmen, like myself, continue to fight for recognition of our tribal membership while acknowledging the shared experiences of oppression that both peoples endured. I hope that by bringing these complex stories to light, we can achieve recognition and reconciliation among our communities.
Thank you.
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any unnecessary elements and ensuring clarity.
Black – Relating to people of African descent, often used in historical contexts to discuss social, cultural, and political issues. – The Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s sought to achieve racial dignity and economic and political self-sufficiency for Black communities.
Native – Referring to the original inhabitants of a particular region or country, often used in discussions about indigenous peoples and their rights. – The Native American tribes of the Great Plains developed a rich culture centered around the buffalo, which was integral to their way of life.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often analyzed to understand the present and anticipate future trends. – The history of the Roman Empire provides valuable insights into the rise and fall of civilizations.
Tribes – Social groups consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, often having a common culture and dialect. – The Iroquois Confederacy was a powerful alliance of six Native American tribes in the northeastern United States.
Enslavement – The state of being owned and controlled by another person, often used in historical contexts to discuss the transatlantic slave trade and its impact. – The enslavement of African people had profound and lasting effects on societies in both Africa and the Americas.
Territory – An area of land under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state, often discussed in terms of expansion, colonization, and conflict. – The Louisiana Purchase significantly expanded the territory of the United States in the early 19th century.
Freedom – The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint, often a central theme in social and political movements. – The Emancipation Proclamation was a crucial step toward freedom for enslaved people in the United States.
Land – The part of the earth’s surface that is not covered by water, often a critical factor in historical conflicts and economic development. – The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged Western migration by providing settlers with 160 acres of public land.
Culture – The social behavior and norms found in human societies, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, and arts. – The Renaissance was a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe, marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity.
Recognition – Acknowledgment of the existence, validity, or legality of something, often used in discussions about the rights and status of groups or nations. – The recognition of indigenous land rights has been a significant issue in many countries seeking to address historical injustices.
