Mississippi’s Civil War era history is fraught with violence. Freedom for Black citizens was not welcomed by all. Free Blacks were driven from their jobs without compensation. Sometimes newly freed men were shot for no reason. The reason given was that they were “troublesome negroes.”
Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:
If your family is from Oklahoma, Arizona or California, it may help to know that those three states have the highest number of Native American residents. Next is New Mexico, North Carolina, Washington, Texas and believe it or not, New York, in that order. Except that for many of us, our Native ancestors were not originally from those areas but were removed from their homelands and relocated to new territories.
Suellen Ocean is the author of Secret Genealogy IV – Native Americans Hidden in Our Family Trees:
The list of what freed slaves could not do, was so long, someone who wanted could easily find an infraction against a Black man that could lead to his arrest. Take preaching as an example. Without a license from an official church organization, it was unlawful for a Freedman to preach the gospel. Or perform any of the duties of a minister. No doubt, those licenses were hard for a Black man to obtain.
Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:
There are more than 550 tribes in the United States. They lived for thousands of years in this land we call America. They cared for it better than we care for it today. If European exploration had not occurred, Natives might be living much the same way they lived for thousands of years. But the lost tribes are gone now (and there were plenty of lost tribes) and we can’t bring them back. Paradoxically, many of us with Native ancestry also have European ancestry.
Suellen Ocean is the author of Secret Genealogy IV – Native Americans Hidden in Our Family Trees:
For many years, in the history of America, unless you were a soldier, if you were Black, it was illegal to carry a gun, ammunition or a bowie-knife. Imagine the power and responsibility one would feel upon given the right to carry a weapon. Black soldiers helped win the Civil War.
Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:
If you go to Illinois to look up your ancestors, and they’re from Kankakee County, you might want to study the Pottawatomi Indian tribe. Kankakee was heavily populated by this tribe before the settlers came along. There were also French Canadians with Native ancestry who immigrated to the area.
Suellen Ocean is the author of Secret Genealogy IV – Native Americans Hidden in Our Family Trees:
It’s hard to believe slavery even got started, much less comprehend how entrenched it became into the world economy. Slave hunters were hired to go after “Negros” who just wanted their birthright… to be free. They hunted escaped slaves with dogs. Through the swamps they ran. Seeking the sweet freedom of the North. Often forced to leave family behind.
Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:
Once the European settlers started coming to North America in greater numbers, the enslavement of the Natives followed suite. How far back your first Native ancestor goes, I do not know but of course, it goes back to the beginning. Because once you trace that tree, they’re family. The further you go back, the more Native they were. Living with the land. Sky above… earth below.
Suellen Ocean is the author of Secret Genealogy IV – Native Americans Hidden in Our Family Trees:
Ancestry&History 