"I always thought that most of the African-American or Black Armstrongs had taken a "slave name" or the name of the person who "owned" them." I worked at Denny's as a waitress when I was pregnant with Lauren. There were quite a few Hispanics and a couple of black Americans. One in particular I still remember to this day, although don't ask me his name, I've forgotten that bit! lol I said "African American" to something and he said "No, I'm NOT African American, I'm BLACK American. I wasn't born in Africa, my ancestors were, but that doesn't give ME the right to use 'African'". Made perfect sense to me!!! This also happened with Native Americans too, take hubby for instance. He's Pueblo Indian, from Laguna, NM and his family all have the English name of Leeds. Can't get much more English than that! lol Apparently when they were all "rounded up" to be placed on reservations, they were given an English surname so they could easily be identified. Sadly a lot of the history of their correct names has been lost, which makes my job of tracing hubby's lines very difficult! :( If I could find out what "Yamie" means (Walter's Dad's middle name and Robert's middle name) I think I'd be happy!! :D Take care, Rob.

Robyn: Yamie? I'll ask my daughter who thinks she's Native American. All this time I thought Walter was Navajo. I was on the treadmill between two men of color. I asked one why he called himself Afro-American. He said "Because my ancestors came from Africa." (Mine came from Ireland, Scotland, Germany, England, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Syria and Jerusalem. I wondered what that makes me?) Shut up, Rob. Anyhow the gentleman on the other side of me, also a man of color, said "I'm an American. Never been to Africa. My parents never were in Africa. My grandparents were never in Africa. I'm an American who happens to be black." "Also happens to be very handsome' I thunk to myself but for once kept my mouth shut. And my best friend says she's a Black American. But she's nice chocolate brown. Blame Andrew Jackson for the mess the Native Americans got into. At least, that's what my daughter says and she knows everything. Just ask her. My Armstrong was Richard from Ireland who had a slew of kids who had a slew of kids and I come from Elisabeth who married Jasper Avery..And it is not your fault you aren't an Armstrong. You act like one. Marilynn IBSSG ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robyn Leeds" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 1:19 PM Subject: Re: [ARMSTRONG] OT > "I always thought that most of the African-American or Black Armstrongs > had taken a "slave name" or the name of the person who "owned" them." > > I worked at Denny's as a waitress when I was pregnant with Lauren. There > were quite a few Hispanics and a couple of black Americans. One in > particular I still remember to this day, although don't ask me his name, > I've forgotten that bit! lol I said "African American" to something and > he said "No, I'm NOT African American, I'm BLACK American. I wasn't born > in Africa, my ancestors were, but that doesn't give ME the right to use > 'African'". Made perfect sense to me!!! > > This also happened with Native Americans too, take hubby for instance. > He's Pueblo Indian, from Laguna, NM and his family all have the English > name of Leeds. Can't get much more English than that! lol Apparently > when they were all "rounded up" to be placed on reservations, they were > given an English surname so they could easily be identified. > > Sadly a lot of the history of their correct names has been lost, which > makes my job of tracing hubby's lines very difficult! :( If I could find > out what "Yamie" means (Walter's Dad's middle name and Robert's middle > name) I think I'd be happy!! :D > > Take care, > > Rob. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

I once went to some classes taught by a Native American...or Indian...we asked which he preferred to be called. He said, "We like to be called First Americans." Thought that was pretty good and nice..and accurate. Marilyn (one N) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robyn Leeds" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 1:19 PM Subject: Re: [ARMSTRONG] OT > "I always thought that most of the African-American or Black Armstrongs > had taken a "slave name" or the name of the person who "owned" them." > > I worked at Denny's as a waitress when I was pregnant with Lauren. There > were quite a few Hispanics and a couple of black Americans. One in > particular I still remember to this day, although don't ask me his name, > I've forgotten that bit! lol I said "African American" to something and > he said "No, I'm NOT African American, I'm BLACK American. I wasn't born > in Africa, my ancestors were, but that doesn't give ME the right to use > 'African'". Made perfect sense to me!!! > > This also happened with Native Americans too, take hubby for instance. > He's Pueblo Indian, from Laguna, NM and his family all have the English > name of Leeds. Can't get much more English than that! lol Apparently > when they were all "rounded up" to be placed on reservations, they were > given an English surname so they could easily be identified. > > Sadly a lot of the history of their correct names has been lost, which > makes my job of tracing hubby's lines very difficult! :( If I could find > out what "Yamie" means (Walter's Dad's middle name and Robert's middle > name) I think I'd be happy!! :D > > Take care, > > Rob. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Yah but as my kids always said. Get the magazine Ancient America, The tribes we call Indian were NOT the first. Marilynn IBSSG ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marilyn Otterson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 3:27 PM Subject: Re: [ARMSTRONG] OT >I once went to some classes taught by a Native American...or Indian...we > asked which he preferred to be called. He said, "We like to be called > First > Americans." Thought that was pretty good and nice..and accurate. > > Marilyn (one N) > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Robyn Leeds" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 1:19 PM > Subject: Re: [ARMSTRONG] OT > > >> "I always thought that most of the African-American or Black Armstrongs >> had taken a "slave name" or the name of the person who "owned" them." >> >> I worked at Denny's as a waitress when I was pregnant with Lauren. There >> were quite a few Hispanics and a couple of black Americans. One in >> particular I still remember to this day, although don't ask me his name, >> I've forgotten that bit! lol I said "African American" to something and >> he said "No, I'm NOT African American, I'm BLACK American. I wasn't born >> in Africa, my ancestors were, but that doesn't give ME the right to use >> 'African'". Made perfect sense to me!!! >> >> This also happened with Native Americans too, take hubby for instance. >> He's Pueblo Indian, from Laguna, NM and his family all have the English >> name of Leeds. Can't get much more English than that! lol Apparently >> when they were all "rounded up" to be placed on reservations, they were >> given an English surname so they could easily be identified. >> >> Sadly a lot of the history of their correct names has been lost, which >> makes my job of tracing hubby's lines very difficult! :( If I could find >> out what "Yamie" means (Walter's Dad's middle name and Robert's middle >> name) I think I'd be happy!! :D >> >> Take care, >> >> Rob. >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >