I AM Redbone
The situation of Redbones
of Louisiana and surrounding territories is
somewhat like that of the biblical Children of Israel. Leaving Egypt the
Children of Israel were at last free of their tormentors. They then
wandered around in the wilderness for 40 years throwing off the
emotional shackles with which their sojourn in that oppressive land had
bound them. After 40 years they came into the promised land and faced an
opportunity to start anew. Perhaps because of their wandering they were
ready to seize the new opportunity.
In the early 1800s when people now known as Redbones started their trek
out of their Egypt (Southeast US), Southwest Louisiana was an absolute
wilderness. The Louisiana Territory was being bought by the United States
from France. Spain owned Texas and the two countries were in disagreement
over the boundary. The head of the U.S. Army was stationed at
Natchitoches--considered the edge of the western frontier. Almost all of
western Louisiana was, by treaty, declared a neutral zone in which neither
Spain nor the US was to settle or police until an agreement could be
reached on the boundary. This neutral zone became the epitome of a
wilderness in every sense--it was filled with canebrakes, thickets, virgin
timber, swamps and a supply of outlaws. The Neutral Zone was exactly
suited to the perceived needs of a persecuted mixed blood population that
was seeking relief. It was isolated and not heavily populated. Codified
laws and law enforcement were almost non-existent and it was close to the
border of another country. This close proximity to another country allowed
the possibility of crossing the border quickly as situations demanded. Our
own Scott Withrow has aptly called this cautious behavior "border
psychology."
The ancestors of many here today came to this wilderness voluntarily,
cutting themselves off from their country and kin in order to escape
oppression and yes, in many instances to escape retribution for their
crimes. No doubt their motives for coming were mixed but they did make the
trip and began a symbolic 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
Perhaps Redbones, like the Children of Israel, have
been preparing for their new opportunity by forging a new identity,
building new communities, a new worldview and a new culture. It was in the
early days after their arrival here that they were first known as
Redbones. Could it be that the past 200 years in the Louisiana Wilderness
was testing and seasoning in preparation for taking advantage of new
opportunities?
Since the present day events and opportunities may not be as dramatic as
the fables of the Children of Israel, such as Moses coming off the
mountain with a tablet of stone or Joshua leading them out of the dark
shadows of the wilderness to the sunlit plains of the promised land, it
may be difficult to recognize the corollary. So lets be specific. After
wandering in this wilderness for most of the last 200 years our Joshua,
Brent Kennedy, more than a decade ago pointed the way out in his book
Melungeons: Resurrection of a Proud People. Redbones are a branch of the
Melungeon tree and equally as proud.
The opportunity to bring to an end 200 years of wandering and to be
reconnected with long lost and neglected roots has been evolving for at
least half of those years. Beginning perhaps with the end of the Civil
War this evolution has been moved along by the greatly liberalized view
of most Americans toward persons of racial or ethnic characteristics
different from their own, by advanced modes of travel, easy means of
communication, better education, television, several world wars and
greater economic prosperity. The internet has been a tremendous boost to
the process and the Redbone Internet Discussion Group started by Beverly
Jackson has brought us together. The latest event in this
evolutionary process is the creation of the Redbone Heritage Foundation
which through conferences such as this can be the vehicle that takes us to
the next level.
This evolutionary process has brought us now to the mountaintop where we
can look across the historical distance and reconnect with our ancestors
in Kentucky, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and surrounding
states.
Leaving the village and the village mindset requires not only the
opportunity to do so, but vision, preparation and courage as well.
Never
before has there been a public meeting of Redbones--announced and
advertised. Savor the moment--it is an historic event. And its future
significance depends on what we make of it in the years to come. You
have all shown vision and courage today by the simple act of coming here,
standing out in the sunlight and proclaiming--
I AM A REDBONE.
