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Serenasailor
Veteran Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1375
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 04:35 pm: | 
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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Native American Cherokees voted to expel descendants of black slaves from their tribe nation in a special election that has prompted charges of racism, according to returns made public early Sunday.
But a vote of 77 percent to 23 percent, the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma adopted Saturday an amendment to their constitution that strips membership from so-called "Freedmen," those descended from slaves once owned by Cherokees, blacks who were married to Cherokees and children of mixed-race families.
"The Cherokee people exercised the most basic democratic right, the right to vote," Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, said in a statement. "Their voice is clear as to who should be citizens of the Cherokee Nation. No one else has the right to make that determination."
However, opponents of the amendment say it was a racist project designed to deny the distribution of US government funds and tribal revenue to those with African-American heritage, US media reported.
"This is a sad chapter in Cherokee history," Taylor Keen, a Cherokee tribal council member who opposes the amendment, told the New York Times.
"But this is not my Cherokee Nation. My Cherokee Nation is one that honors all parts of her past."
Advocates of changing the 141-year-old treaty rules defining who is a Cherokee say the tribal nation has a sovereign right to decide citizenship and that other tribes base membership on blood lines.
The Cherokee Nation, which ranks as the second-largest tribe behind the Navajo, has some 250,000 to 270,000 members and is growing rapidly. Members are entitled to benefits from the US federal government and tribal services, including medical and housing aid and scholarships.
Cherokees, along with several other tribes, held black slaves and allied themselves with the Confederacy during the US civil war. After the war, the federal government in an 1866 treaty ordered the slaves freed.
In 1983, the Cherokee Nation expelled many descendants of slaves as members but a Cherokee tribunal ruled last year that the Freedmen were fully-fledged citizens with voting rights. That court decision prompted Saturday's special vote.
Native American tribes recognized by the United States government have the right to self-determination and authority similar to US states.
Election results will remain unofficial until certified by the Cherokee Nation Election Commission, but officials said percentages were not expected to change significantly.
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Serenasailor
Veteran Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1376
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 04:35 pm: |
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THATS F*CKED UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!! |
Serenasailor
Veteran Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1377
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 04:42 pm: |
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I wonder if they are voting out all of the White, mixed Cherokee ppl as well???
Interesting!!! |
Serenasailor
Veteran Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1382
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 05:29 pm: |
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MAYBE THEY, LIKE ME GOT TIRED OF BLACK FOLKS CLAIMING TO BE INDIAN AS WELL!!!! HA! HA! HA! |
Robynmarie
Regular Poster
Username: Robynmarie
Post Number: 341
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 05:41 pm: |
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This is beyond disappointing.
It is not a matter of black folks claiming to be Indian, rather the other way around. At one point in their history, they needed to count black folks among their tribe for numbers sake, but now no more.
It's like the black Cherokees have lost part of their heritage. Very messed up. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 3745
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 05:44 pm: |
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Screw them. The Black Cherokees can form their own damn nation. Maybe they can even get their own reservations. |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 1948
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 01:10 am: |
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"MAYBE THEY, LIKE ME GOT TIRED OF BLACK FOLKS CLAIMING TO BE INDIAN AS WELL!!!!"
Good point. I thought I was the only one who felt that way. I have grown tired to the point of irritation when I hear Negroes bragging and pontificating about the so-called Indian in their blood. It never ceases to amaze me how some Negroes desperately attempt to impress others with their so-called "mixture". I grew up in Ohio hearing this nonsense all my life.
I have no problems with any one's genetics because no one chooses their sex, race or ethnicity. But I find it ironic how Negroes will brag about their so-called Indian blood while I doubt seriously if any Indian would brag about possible "black" blood in their genealogy. And yes, I'm sure me stating this will enrage some of the Negroes of this board who take immense pride in their alleged Indian heritage. Too bad.....
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Grind
Regular Poster
Username: Grind
Post Number: 177
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 08:31 am: |
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"I have no problems with any one's genetics because no one chooses their sex, race or ethnicity. But I find it ironic how Negroes will brag about their so-called Indian blood while I doubt seriously if any Indian would brag about possible "black" blood in their genealogy."
LOL Too true.
And ironically, Cherokee was 9 out of 10 times the tribe that I heard negroes claiming to be descended from. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 8625
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 08:40 am: |
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I recall witnessing on C-SPAN a few years ago that over 80% of those classified as Native American have some NON-Indian blood. If that's true with respect to the Cherokee Nation, what is the REAL reason for expelling its members (who just happen to have Black blood)? |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3826
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 11:57 am: |
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Screw them. The Black Cherokees can form their own damn nation. Maybe they can even get their own reservations.
(Now THIS is a sista who is taking the right attitude to this crap--
Rap, Godmother!) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 7610
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 12:58 pm: |
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Native Americans are regarded as the "noble savage", and they hold a special romantisized place in the annals of the American spectrum. Many whites also brag about having Indian blood. Few black folks brag about having white blood. So there is a difference. |
Schakspir
Veteran Poster
Username: Schakspir
Post Number: 879
Registered: 12-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 02:07 pm: |
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Abm: I recall witnessing on C-SPAN a few years ago that over 80% of those classified as Native American have some NON-Indian blood. If that's true with respect to the Cherokee Nation, what is the REAL reason for expelling its members (who just happen to have Black blood)?
Schakspir: Money. The Cherokees don't want black people claiming any Cherokee heritage and using that as an alibi to get their hands on any of their casino earnings. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 8633
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 02:48 pm: |
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Schakspir: "Money. The Cherokees don't want black people claiming any Cherokee heritage and using that as an alibi to get their hands on any of their casino earnings."
...in a frickin' NUTSHELL! |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 1956
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 04:11 pm: |
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"The Cherokees don't want black people claiming any Cherokee heritage and using that as an alibi to get their hands on any of their casino earnings."
Well, with that said, I think you just closed this thread out Schakspir. E'nuff said..........
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Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 3770
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 04:25 pm: |
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I wonder if the Black Cherokees have the right to file a petition in the federal court system for a discrimination/EEO action. |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3836
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 12:04 pm: |
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I knew some blacks from Oklahoma and they hated Indians. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 8654
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 07:21 am: |
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Chris,
Why? Because of what Schakspir alluded to: Blacks were cut out of those Indian casino profits? |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 373
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 09:45 am: |
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Mzuri wrote:
I wonder if the Black Cherokees have the right to file a petition in the federal court system for a discrimination/EEO action.
I don't think Black Cherokees would have any recourse in any US Federal Court against the Cherokee nation, or any other American Indian nation for that matter.
If my understanding is correct, the US gov't recognizes reservations as "free, sovereign nations." In other words, reservations have their own gov't and laws separate from those of the United States. Even though they are physically located on US soil, reservations are recognized as pretty much being their own distinct countries. The US cannot interfere. Well, I suppose the US gov't COULD interfere, but chooses not to if doing so is not to the US's benefit.
So I don't think Black Cherokees would be able to "go over their head" by bringing a discrimination suit against the Cherokee nation in the US courts. Recourse, if any, would have to be appealed to the Cherokee nation itself. But since they already voted and made their position clear, I doubt they will overturn their decision just because Black Indians are angry about being treated unfairly. What else is new?
Thing is, there aren't enough Black Indians who are LEGALLY recognized as being such to have strength in numbers. There are many, many Black Indians GENETICALLY, but LEGALLY is a different story. So, just like in the US, American Indian nations can afford to overlook and dismiss the needs and best interests of Blacks amongst them because of the dismal numbers of the LEGAL Black Indian population.
But I agree that this all comes down to having to share the wealth. When it gets down to the nitty gritty, money, and the power it brings, is the only LAW that counts. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 8659
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 10:05 am: |
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Urban_scribe,
One of my best friends does a lot of Federal work with Native Americans. And his explanations to me of how things work between the United States and Native Americans suggest that what you present is pretty much dead-on.
The only shot the Black Cherokee have are to be recognized by the US as, as you describe, a "free, sovereign nation", which I figure there's a snowball's chance of the hot side of hell of occurring. |
Toubobie
Regular Poster
Username: Toubobie
Post Number: 231
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 01:04 am: |
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i am SO happy those NEGROS gout ousted. When will we realize that noone gives a fruck about "da indian in dey family" but their own ignant *sses? I sent this story to a close friend of mine, and he nearly came to tears. We are such a self-hating mixed up sorry bunch of f*cks. The world mocks our wretchedness and self-loathing. |
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