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American Heritage Series - Exploring the Black Native American Experience

American Heritage Series: Blood Ties: Exploring the Black Native American Experience
Presented by The Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas

The American Heritage Series is an ongoing series of lectures and discussions that offer new perspectives on the role of African-Americans in American History. The third installment of The American Heritage Series will feature a panel discussion examining the intricate and complicated ties between African-American and Native American ancestry.

Many African-Americans can trace some of their family tree to at least one Native American and this past August, several Black Native organizations marched on Washington to bring recognition to Black Indian issues. In an age where African-Americans are now demanding the right to claim multiple ancestries and because of broadening racial and ethnic categories, these assertions and history become extremely relevant. Even with the claims of many African Americans and scholars, "the very notion of Black Indians still has most whites shaking their heads in disbelief or smiling at what appears to be a joke, and unlikely play on words," stated historian and author William Katz. Those disbeliefs all but ignore the intricate ties and history between the African and Native communities. This program will explore these historical and current ties and the notion of racial identity among Native and African Americans.