Melungeon Forum

Freeman Family & George Hall - Indian

Posted by: James Nickens

Dr. James Nickens, who is a well known Melungeon, is seeking information on Culpepper Copunty, Virginia.

Egyptians in Early America - Bolton

James Nickens states:

"The term "Egyptian" in colonial and early America had no reference whatsoever to Egypt. "Egyptian" in Europe and early America use is the derivation of the term "Gypsy". The ethnic origin of the Gypsy is India, not Egypt. In the Gypsy diaspora from India through Asia, through Anatolia, into Europe, these people were called "Little Egyptians". They arrive in 17th century America with the European invaders."

"The Gypsy were indeed free people of color - misidentified in contemporary records as mulatto, white, black, Negro, etc. In 20th century literature they have been styled erroneusly as "Free African Americans".

Egyptians in Early America - Bolton

Post from James Nickens, who is both an Indian/Melungeon and a member of the Virginia Indian Historical Society, addresses the identification of the Free Persons of Color.

"Gypsies (Egyptians) as Free Persons of Color misidentified in American "history" as "Free African Americans" ....

AfriGeneas Free Persons of Color Forum
South Carolina Egyptiams - F.P.O.C.?By:James E. Griffith
Date: Friday, 17 October 2008, 6:10 pm"

Re:An example of the "shunning and shaming" tactic

Excerpt :

MaryE wrote:

<<"Larry, the 'shunning and shaming' is a human trait. Been used by every culture since day one. It is very effective if the subject person is in his right mind and is educible.">>

MaryE,

I don't know about being a human trait. However I can tell you that through out history the woman were raped by the men of their nation's victors. This practice is ongoing to this very day. Many woman became pregnant as a result. Some of the victims of rape conceived and gave birth to babies that might have resembled the rapist - the conquerors.

These are the children who were shunned and put to shame because of their physical features.

This is what the Melungeon Movement is about....we are all akin.

The shunning and shaming the people of mix-ancestry is just plain wrong.

Laree Lee

....can't you find anything that is more updated. The articles written by Virginia Demarce on the Melungeons needs to be updated. Maybe she will see your post and write more about what she has learned since her last article. The Internet is so much more advanced more documents are available.

She has a right to publish her thoughts and research online too. I think a lot of people would be interested. This decade old review has it's own little quirks.

I warn that just because an author's article is in a well known genealogy society magazine, that does not always mean that all of the genealogy is correct. The work can be incorrect for many reasons. But, the placement in a well known source does help bring the author a feather in their hat.

Queen of the Melungeons?

This day in history: Joanne, the leader of the Melungeon Heritage Research Group became known as Joanne - Queen of the Melungeons.

Excerpt:

"Jan

"Nancy can call me anything she wants as long as she keeps pointing out how all my hard work has paid off."

"She is right. Rootsweb, ancestry.com, and this board use to be flooded with people who claimed to be Melungeons because they had a Turkish disease, a bump, a squat, or because they had a surname that was in Kennedy's book."

"What started out as a 'handful' of people who kept posting the truth everywhere grew and grew -- and finally the truth started poking up everywhere -- until we have the current situation -- I'm quite proud to have been part of this Melungeon Movement that has been working to take back our heritage!"

Joanne

Review Essay: The Melungeons

Demarce subscribes to the "Tri-racial isolate theory. Melungeons are desendants of Africans, American Indians and Caucasians. Demarce siad that there are many tri-racial isolates in the southeast.

Melungeons VS Redbones genforum

Say What?

If a person has both Redbone and Melungeon heritage, are they permitted to post on the Melungeon genform too? Or are they ostrasized by Melungeonist who dominate the Melungeon GenForum at genealogy.com?