The Melungeons’ Forbidden Black Ancestry

Comments · 905

• NY

  @nytn · 1 year ago · pinned

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• GO

  @gomez9151 · 1 year ago

  Keep telling the lost/suppressed history of America, you are going great work!

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• SI

  @Sidiqasoul · 1 year ago

  Never heard of these people until today. The U.S has ALOT of un-hiding to do. Thank you for sharing.

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• JU

  @JustHadToKnow · 1 year ago

  NYTN, you are absolutely right in noting that children were instructed not to discuss it. This silence was likely driven by the fear of exposing Black ancestry, a revelation that could disrupt lives built around a White identity. For those who have lived as White, such a disclosure could dramatically alter their relationships, social standing, and professional interactions. This is why any questioning of their racial background often catches them off guard and evokes fear about what such a revelation might bring. Even when their Black ancestry is uncovered, many will continue to identify as White, likely out of self-preservation or societal pressures. Personally, I am less concerned about how people choose to identify and more troubled by the unjust laws designed to enforce segregation and perpetuate division in the first place.

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• TH

  @thenightwingsqueen · 1 year ago

  So true, my grandma would scold people if they asked what we were mixed with and told me always say just black and my grandfather would say creole. It was confusing but now I understand it was due to their child trauma and survival instincts - you have so debunked the word “race” good job I love your videos

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• MA

  @Manifestwaking · 1 year ago

  I am Melungeon. &nbsp;Thank you for this.

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• RE

  @rebeccamd7903 · 1 year ago

  My grandparents were Melungeon from Southeastern Kentucky and Southwestern Virginia. I have many records showing Native and African history. I also have historical records for the Neuman’s ridge Melungeon because they were family with my groups. I’m also descended from Susan Stallard who was accused of harboring Melungeons (the first recorded use of the word as we know it). In that same region where she was accused, there were records of some mixed people (Gibson, Collins, Bolling, etc) who either got in trouble or were removed from the church. The same families who got in trouble in the Carolina’s and were called Saponi. This history goes back to the 1600’s and I have done extensive research on my people. It’s beautiful and scary!

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• RH

  @rhondag8128 · 1 year ago (edited)

  My Father is a Gibson and my Mother is a Collins both from Pulaski County in Kentucky born in the 30’s. I have always suspected African American ancestors before I learned about the Melungeon tribe. Talk of our ancestors was never discussed other than you have a Grandmother who was Cherokee and Scottish and Irish on the other side. I appreciate you and am thankful for all of your work digging up the hidden history of our ancestors.

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• AN

  @AngelaGoodwin-fh6fw · 1 year ago

  Your presence on YouTube is much appreciated. &nbsp;You bring insight into the many facets of our human family.

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• HO

  @HonestLeighSpeaking · 1 year ago

  I’ve had ppl from other countries question my ethnicity, walk up to me and start speaking their languages, and more. And when they ask “What are you?” I say “I’m Black… regular Black… I from a ppl that represent every shade of ppl. And I regular Black…” 🤷🏽‍♀️

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• FR

  @frankdewaalirisclazing6501 · 1 year ago

  I came across the term Melungeons years ago and was immediately intrigued by their history (ies). The period between 1500 -1800 was much more ethnically and culturally fluid than we realize. In the Caribean and East coast of the US there were migrants of all sorts escaping enslavement, poverty, or cultural or religious oppression. Like the jungles in South America provided possibilities to escape and establish communities like the Marrons in Suriname, so did the Appalachian mountains. The ancestry of the Melungeons might therefore be a mix of Europeans, Romani, Native American and African American. Thank you for your work. It&apos;s important in these polarizing times.

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• RO

  @Ron.Murray · 1 year ago

  A lot of work went into trying to erase family history. They Lost, thank God. Keep up your good work.

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