Porter, former professor of history at the university of oregon, began researching black seminole history in the 1930s. This book provides a very informative and vivid account of black seminole involvement and what it really meant to be a black seminole during the second seminole war. While porters black seminoles documents nearly all of the known facts of john horses life, a few details were unknown to porter at the time of his death in 1981. The black seminoles history of a freedom seeking people. History of a freedomseeking people 1996, hardcover, revised at the best online prices at. The argument leading up to the statement that this book frames the war primarily. During the early part of that century, the spanish crown, which controlled florida, gave land to a group of lower creeks hoping to form a buffer zone between themselves and the. The history is pieced together from military records do most of the book, especially the early part is good through the lens of the military. Captures the distinct identity and history of the seminole maroons popularly known as black seminoles, descendants of the seminole freedmen of indian territory are a unique american cultural group. Black seminolesgullahs who escaped from slavery the. The principal sources for this overview of john horse are porter black and mulroy. Readers discover seminole history and culture in this richly designed, and wellresearched volume.
He spoke a number of languages and later on acted as interpreter for the us army as well as for the seminoles. News related to the black seminolesblack seminole history and. They gradually grew in strength, absorbing many runaway black slaves and some members of the apalachee tribe. Black seminoles, also called seminole maroons or seminole freedmen, a group of free blacks and runaway slaves maroons that joined forces with the seminole indians in florida from approximately 1700 through the 1850s. Negroindian relationships in the southeast laurence foster read.
It is a fascinating book that tells the littleknown story of the black seminoles fight for freedom during the seminole wars in florida. I am still researching to find more of my people and even more about them. Read the black seminoles history of a freedomseeking people by kenneth w. Faq on the black seminoles, john horse, and rebellion. This page was created to share our discoveries and thoughts about the forgotten and suppressed history of the black seminole indians and to help bring. Black seminoles in contemporary red bays number approximately 290, the majority of whom are descended directly from the original settlers. This book has proven to be an inspiring and an in depth account of the black seminole indians as well as many of the buffalo soldiers who gave of themselves and their lives to pave a road for so many in the military today. Allmans latest book, finding florida, goes behind the myths and lies of florida history. Explore the story of john horse and the black seminoles, the first black rebels to beat american slavery and leaders of the largest slave rebellion in u.
These wars also drew the support of slaves in alabama and georgia. Jan , 2016 kim rated it really liked it an incredible history told via the story if one man. The black seminoles by belinda noah is a blockbuster. A powerful and stirring story, the black seminoles will appeal especially to readers interested in black history, indian history, florida history, and u. Beginning in the early 1800s, when groups of fugitive slaves in florida joined the seminole indians, the story traces their fortunes and exploits as they move across country. A gripping account of a peoples struggle both for identity and freedom. The black seminoles were celebrated for their bravery and tenacity during the three seminole wars. News related to the black seminolesblack seminole history. Originally published in 1996, his book remains the definitive work on the subject.
This story of a remarkable people, the black seminoles, and their charismatic leader, chief john horse, chronicles their heroic struggle for freedom. Black seminoles were enslaved africans and african americans who, beginning in the late 17th century fled plantations in the southern american colonies and joined with the newlyformed seminole tribe in spanishowned florida. This book is a worthy monument for them and to kenneth porters lifelong quest. This fascinating story chronicles the lives of fugitive slaves who aligned themselves with seminole indians in florida beginning in the early 1800s, fought with them in the second. When he died in 1981, he was still editing the 700 pages of his lifes work. His insightful, provocative, and at times howlingly funny book includes great sections touching on the history of the black seminole maroons and. Porter spoke directly with chief horses descendants and with older black seminoles who either knew him or had heard firsthand stories about him. This story of a remarkable people, the black seminoles, and their charismatic leader, chief john horse, chronicles their. Black seminoles a historical overview by katarina wittich.
The black seminoles history of a freedomseeking people by porter, kenneth w. The black seminoles and spanishspeaking mixedblood creeks from the north georgia mountains generally operated as cavalry units or mounted rifles, while the muskogeecreeks were. By 1842, most seminoles and black seminoles had been removed to indian territory west of the mississippi river. She is member of the tiger clan and tom palmer band of the seminole nation and attended the university of nebraska. News related to the black seminoles suggest stories to link to march 9, 20 finding florida tells true story of sunshine state journalist and noted author t. Black seminole indians the handbook of texas online. While still under spanish rule, the seminole became involved in several major confrontations with the united states, particularly in the war of 1812 and again in 181718. Presented here are the text panels and citations of books, government documents and journal articles of an exhibit displayed in cohen library of the city college during black history month, february 1998. They built their own settlements on the florida frontier, fought a series of wars to preserve their freedom, and were scattered across north america. Black seminole indians, sometimes known as indian blacks, black muscogulges, or seminole freedmen, emerged as a distinct ethnic group in seventeenthcentury florida. The seminoles and black seminoles were military allies throughout the bloody seminole wars. But in the early years he was one of the principal black seminoles leading the fight against removal.
During the american civil war, most oklahoma seminole allied with the confederacy, after which they had to sign a new treaty with the u. Amos is librarian at the world bank in washington, d. The black seminoles are a small offshoot of the gullah who escaped from the rice plantations in south carolina and georgia. Black seminoles a historical overview by katarina wittich western. Mulroy adds new material on his life out west, while canter browns research has yielded new clues about his life in florida. The argument leading up to the statement that this book frames the war primarily as a slave rebellion and not as an indian war is convincing. Miller is an american indian historian and past faculty member at arizona state university within the american indian studies program.
The purpose of the exhibit is to illuminate the history of the black seminoles and their struggle for freedom, dignity and selfdetermination. Beginning with the early 1800s, small groups of fugitive slaves living in florida joined the seminole indians an association that thrived for decades on reciprocal respect and affection. Naples daily news this books sweep is broad, its story is provocative, and the human saga it evokes is compelling. Black seminoles in the bahamas rosalyn howard university of central florida, rosalyn. Porter was professor of history at the university of oregon. The black seminoles was one of the more interesting books i read as part of that research. Culminating five decades of research by porter, this fascinating book, edited and released after the scholars death, relays the epic history of. List of books and articles about seminole indians online. Black seminoles gullahs who escaped from slavery the black seminoles are a small offshoot of the gullah who escaped from the rice plantations in south carolina and georgia. Its indepth exploration of seminole history begins with prehistoric times and continues to the present. Brooke, who discovered the young seminole black had been swindling his personal cook by selling him the same land turtle, or tortoise a socalled gopher, multiple times for the majors personal mess.
Black seminoles 14 works search for books with subject black seminoles. The mascogos also known as negros mascagos are an afrodescendant group in coahuila, mexico. The experience of having lived under spanish control, the influence of the black seminoles who feared a return to slavery, and the perception that they could successfully resist forced removal why do you think osceola was upset by the governments demand that the seminole move west. Among the topics examined are the seminoles arrival in florida in the 1700s, the place of black seminoles in their society, their struggles to protect their territory from landhungry. Porter was one of the more interesting books i read as part of that research. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. The book should be read by everyone because after reading the book everyone will understand who the black seminoles really were and why they fought so hard to maintain their freedom. John horse and the black seminoles african diaspora news channel. The black seminoles survived slave catchers, government betrayal, and attempts at extermination as they asserted their humanity and expressed their love of freedom. The story of the black seminoles and their leader, chief john horse, which chronicles their struggle for freedom. The black seminole indians of texas doug sivad read.