# 17 A WORD CALLED REDBONE

Being of mixed ancestry is not a new concept in my own family. Although we did not call ourselves "Redbones" we did know we were mixed. We used Black Dutch, as a way to show that admixture. It is term used in the South to describe mixed ancestry.

For Louisiana Redbones to dismiss their more "Red Native American" cousins in Texas is pretty much people who do not know about the History of Texas during the mid 1800's.

Many mixed families came into Texas at that time and there were many from the Eastern Tribes of the United States.

Delaware, Coushatta, Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek just to name a few.

The Starr family lived in Texas for many years and members of the Fields family as well.

Although many of these families may not have come from the historic "Redbone" areas of Louisiana there were many others that did.

I have a hunch that the outlaws JW Hardin and Sam Bass gang were probably Redbones but it must be proved that they are of mixed blood ancestry for many white people have these same surnames.

But let me just say this one thing.

The term "REDBONE" does not belong to one individual or group.

I have heard it used in the context of a general definition to identify a mixed person of African and Native American ancestry. I have also heard it used in the African American community.

Redbone, the term, does not belong to Bearhead Creek no more than "Indian" belongs to the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw etc.

A similar and more appropiate concept is the term "Black Dutch" which was used by my family but is also used by the German Gypsy and the Pennslyvania Deutch People.

The Pennslyvania Deutch people who identify as Black Dutch know there are others who use the term for identification. They know the term Black Dutch has been used by other groups.

Just my opinion folks but unlike Melungeon, which is a uncommon term, Redbone is a common general term.

Gabe Gabehart and Stacy Webb are just as Redbone as anyone in "Bearhead Creek" or Louisiana.

In fact, one can almost make the case that Gabe and Stacy are much more "Redbone" than anybody else in Southwest Louisiana today.

Perhaps.

But true mixed ancestry people do not exclude others of the same kind of ancestry.

Alvie