“You can’t make a wise man a slave, you can’t make a warrior a slave. When you and I came here, or rather when we were brought here, we were brought here from a society that was highly civilized, our culture was at the highest level, and we were warriors—we knew no fear. How could they make us slaves?” —Malcolm X
Over the years I heard people say and post that- “slaves lost their culture”-meaning that they weren’t allowed to keep their cultural identity, and I’ve always found these statements odd considering they had no basis for them other than through erasure politics. What they should say is that it’s been buried, or they don’t remember, but as a descendent of indigenous black people from Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Virginia, I can attest to you that we know who we are and where we come from. But first, let’s explore the idea that most people are misinformed about the different groups of people they call “slaves”.
Once, I stood in front of my first period class- mostly made up of children who were immigrants to the area. We were discussing a short story based on Black Culture in America when a student disagreed with my disgustingly eloquent thesis statement. Her rebuttal included a look of disgust on her face when she, a seventh grader, challenged the validity of the story based on her limited knowledge of slavery in this country. I simply said, “you do know that there were black people on this land before they brought the slaves here, right?” Before I could repeat myself, she gets up and storms out of the room. I yelled after her, “where are you going, I’m not done?”. I knew where she was going, to the one who did the indoctrination. I just wish she had let me explain that we’ve been here for thousands of years.
What I would have shared with her was that our culture is embedded in every aspect of our lives today, and my people were more like pow’s in relation to the atrocities inflicted on those who arrived through chattel slavery. In this modern era of suppressing Black people, people are adamantly spreading gossip about how we don’t know “where we come from”, when this can’t be further from the truth. So, let’s examine what culture is: the shared beliefs, customs, arts, behaviors, and way of life of a group of people, passed down through generations, that shapes their identity and how they see the world, including their language, food, traditions, and values. Culturally, my ancestors have always said that we are Cherokee, but you’ll never see anything on paper that says so. We are even lumped in the “Black or African American” categories on official forms, when we are neither. What we can do is look at the different aspects of our culture today and see if it aligns with Cherokee culture.
Research says: The Cherokee were skilled agriculturalists, with women serving as the primary farmers. Their main crops, the "Three Sisters", were planted interdependently in a method that naturally enriched the soil.
• Corn (selu): This was the most important food and central to many cultural and spiritual beliefs. Different varieties were grown for roasting, boiling, or grinding into meal for dishes like bean bread or soups.
• Beans: These were a major protein source and included varieties similar to modern pinto beans.
• Squash and pumpkins: These were widely grown and used in various dishes, often roasted or included in stews.
• Other crops: They also grew sunflowers (for seeds), pumpkins, melons, and tobacco.
After European contact, the Cherokee integrated new foods into their farming, such as peaches, watermelons, apples, black-eyed peas, and sweet potatoes, as well as livestock like chicken, pigs, and cows.
Hunted Animals
Hunting was essential, with every part of the animal used. Men used bows and arrows, traps, nets, and blowguns to catch game.
• Large game: Deer (most important), bear, and elk.
• Small game: Rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs, and various birds like turkeys and grouse.
• Fish and water animals: Native fish and turtles were caught using hooks, spears, or by temporarily stunning them with certain plant extracts in streams.
Gathered Wild Foods
Foraging for wild plants, nuts, and berries was a significant part of the diet.
• Nuts: Hickory nuts, chestnuts, and pecans were commonly gathered.
• Berries and fruits: Wild berries (like blueberries and blackberries), crabapples, and wild plums were collected seasonally.
• Greens and other plants: Wild greens, mushrooms, watercress, poke sallet, and ramps (wild onions or leeks) were important for nutrition and flavor, especially in the spring.
Cooking Methods
Before metal cookware was introduced by Europeans, the Cherokee cooked using clay pots or by burying food in hot coals. Many meals were prepared as one-pot stews or soups. A modern, but common, favorite in many Native American communities, including the Cherokee, is fry bread.
The Black mamas I know all cook in a similar fashion, and it is reflected in what is already stated; and These practices, recipes, pots, and cast-iron skillets were all passed down from generation to generation. Research also says The Cherokee traditions and values centered on balance, harmony, community, and deep respect for nature, emphasizing strong family/clan ties (matrilineal), spiritual connection, honesty, perseverance, and sharing- with life revolving around spirituality, hunting/farming, storytelling, and unique clan roles, all while adapting to change through literacy and Christianity, yet preserving core indigenous principles.
So, what would our village be today? Essentially, after the Civil War and the Great Migration, Black Folks formed their own towns or villages as we like to call them. Today, our villages are sadly disappearing, but our traditions will remain the same. What we call the village mentality refers to a strong sense of collective responsibility within the community. Aspects of the village mentality include mutual support, shared values and traditions, collective responsibility, extended family, and resistance to adversity. In action, this looks like community childcare, mentorship and role models, collective action, empowerment, and even cultural preservation. Growing up in the late 80’s in Detroit, I can proudly say that the “community” was alive and thriving. The shared values and traditions were reflected in a large amount of the neighborhood being “family”. To take this notion a bit farther, we were family because our ancestors were all from the same southern states. What’s already understood, doesn’t need to be said when it comes to what colonizers have written in their textbooks about the Aboriginal people of this land.
"We didn't land on Plymouth Rock, my brothers and sisters—Plymouth Rock landed on us!". -Malcolm X
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