The TRUTH is we are who we are & whether we be accepted or debated by the folks who don't believe that a Melungeon is this or that or if A Black Dutch is this or that, the fact of the matter is our research & hard work is proofing the ignorant ones wrong. I accept all colors of the Rainbow and I am proud of all bloodlines that run thru my veins. The Creator put them there. My family members I've spoken to shy from speaking of the past. My one aunt tells of the suffering our ancestors went thru during re-location times and how they were treated when they reached OKLA after the Trail. She tells me let the dead rest , leave the past in the past. They don't wish to discuss nothing about family trees..... why cause of the secrets , skeletons in the closet maybe? not sure. Pain & suffereing yes! I am Cherokee from my father, his parents both are Cherokee. My Granny has a hairline of Irish. My Grandpa's side, I have a 5 gg Grandpa who was Scottish. My grandpa's father used to call my gg grandma "Black Dutch" ...........We found that we have African American kinfolk possibly in Las Vega, NV. Many of the Five Civilized Tribes had Slaves and had children with their slaves as the Whiteman did. This is a possibility in my family. Our surname is listed under the Freedmens List of the Five Civilized Tribes on the DAWES Rolls........... We also found that many fled and hid form the Gov't to avoid racial persecution ............they hid from the whiteman.. Many things happened.......... Now the Portugese, they did bring the African people to the Americas & so on right? they mixed with the Slaves themselves and then sold the slaves and from their The White Slaveowners mixed with them and then the Five Civilized Tribes began owning their own slaves and mixed and on. So much mixing & inter-marriages, it's hard to say............. But what we've found with the Term Black Dutch is we are all connected to the Indigenous Peoples & this term isn't used outside the United States Of America.. We've researched all over the world, One Black Dutch list claimed it was German/Black Forrest/Jewish.....We proved that wrong and got kicked off the list, then we researched German, Baltic, Holland, and so on and no one heard of this term. Full-blood German folks from Germany that I personally know never heard of this, those that still live there don't know of this term. Now as for the not accepting African, this is the point I was saying about the closed minded ones......... they don't think this race is acceptable, this is they way they was brought up. I accept all, the list accepts all, We made it clear that we welcome all to our list and won't tolerate racism or hate towards others. We believe their are those with African Heritage using the term. But we are in the Y2K now and not ashamed or made to feel ashamed as our grandparents and parents were made. We must take a stand to make a change to stop the color lines. This can get frustrating as hell, but don't give in to the frustration, rely on the Creator & patience. We will find the TRUTH, just have FAITH. We all have theories, that doesn't mean one theory is right & the other is wrong.. It could possibly be a large combination of all theories in one....One just can't tell, but we have what we all have researched and that's more then I had back in 1995 when I first started researching! "Keep on Pushin" Curtis Mayfield............... blessings to all....... Turtle/ ~We are all RELATED, We are all the SAME~