Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
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What do Jimmy Hendrix, John Trudell and Burt Reynolds have in common? They all are of mixed ancestry.

Nobody will dispute that Trudell is Native American. His father is Santee Dakota, his mother was indigenous Mexican. Some will frown when hearing that Burt Reynolds is part Native American; and then shrug. Most, if not all of his audience will still consider him a white man. And many people will start laughing when you tell them that Jimmy Hendrix was part Cherokee. Save for a handful of people, he'll always be remembered as that Afro-American guitar god.

Not that long ago, a Belgian newspaper published an interesting article about the Indian casinos. The tone of the article became rather denigrating though, when they mentioned the successful Pequot venture. "Black Indians", they laughed; and the journalist wanted to make the reader believe that Afro-American people wanted to take advantage of the fact that claiming some Indian ancestry has become sort of popular. To this newspaper, it seemed that being of mixed ancestry -- Afro and Native American -- was pure fiction.

This newspaper is not alone. "Black Indians". They do exist, and there are more of them than you thought. And these people have quite some problems being accepted by the Afro-American, Native American and Euro-American societies. If one is part white, one is allowed to claim one's Native American ancestry (and I'm not talking here about new-age twinkies or Bill Clinton). However, if one is part black, one cannot. To most people in the Afro-American society, all it takes to be Black is one drop of Afro-American blood; but it takes 99% of Native American blood to be considered Indian.

This just doesn't make sense. Defining who you are depends on your ancestry (the complete picture), as well as where and how you were raised.

To build the future, you must know the past. But what if that past has been hidden, lost or denied? "Black Indians" are people as diverse as Revolutionary War hero Crispus Attucks, writer Langston Hughes, rock artists Jimmy Hendrix and Tina Turner, or celebrated actor James Earl Jones; and thousands of people who are unknown.

Who are these people? How do they feel about their mixed heritage? Do they suffer from their racial identity? And how did Native and Afro American cultures entertwine?

The documentary "Black Indians: An American Story" explores this issue. It's a 60 minute in-depth study of this group of people that has been discounted and often ignored by mainstream America.

Narrated by James Earl Jones, this documentary is the latest release from the award-winning Native American production company Rich-Heape Films. It includes vintage film clips, still photos, comments from historians; very interesting and moving interviews with Narragansett, Cherokee, Seminole, Pequot, Apache, and other Native Americans who are also of African descent.

Director Chip Richie and executive producer Steven Heape bring to light this vital but hidden story that is rich in history and compelling in its contemporary meaning.

"Black Indians: An American Story" should be broadcasted all over the American public television; as well as abroad.

Elsie Herten can be contacted by e-mail: kolahq@skynet.be.