Background: Who were the Black Seminoles?
The
Black Seminoles were Africans - often run-away slaves - who were
members of the Seminole tribe, a group of Native Americans who had left
the Creek tribe and settled in Florida. The Native Americans and
African Americans became closely
intertwined as they fought against the US government to
keep their land and their freedom. After several wars, the majority of
the Seminoles were forced to move to Indian Territory (today's
Oklahoma), where most still live to this day. Other Black Seminoles can
be found in Texas, the northern parts of Mexico, and the
Bahamas.
There are many excellent websites online that cover the different
aspects of the Black Seminoles in great depth. So rather than trying to
write yet another article on the Black Seminoles, here are some links
that are a good introduction to the Black Seminoles.
History of the Black Seminoles
Culture and Language of the Black Seminoles
Black Seminoles (Seminole Freedmen) in Oklahoma
Black Seminoles (Seminole Scouts) in Texas
Black Seminoles (Mascogos) in Mexico
Black Seminoles (Black Indians) in the Bahamas