by Tiya Miles
First published 2006
This interdisciplinary collection tackles the understudied connections between Native American and African American experiences. Editor Tiya Miles brings together historians, anthropologists, legal scholars, and creative writers to examine how these communities have intersected throughout American history. The volume spans from colonial Mexico to contemporary tribal politics. Contributors analyze everything from an 1838 freewoman's memoir to the 2998 Miss Navajo Nation controversy involving a contestant with an African American father. Essays explore black slavery's legacy in Choctaw and Chickasaw nations, Afro-Native intermarriage effects on New England tribal identities, and federal classification challenges. The collection blends scholarly research with creative expression, featuring literary analysis of Toni Morrison's work, theatrical interpretations, original fiction by Roberta J. Hill, and an interview with Creek poet Joy Harjo. Robert Warrior provides theoretical frameworks for comparative study and reflects on this critical project's significance. The book offers readers fresh perspectives on how two marginalized communities have shaped each other's histories and cultural expressions.
Genres: history, african-american, non-fiction, native-american, cultural-studies, american-history
Vibes: academic, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: comparative-study, found-family
Setting: Mexico, Choctaw Nation, Chickasaw Nation, New England
Period: Colonial, Contemporary, 1838, 2998
392 pages · Paperback · Duke University Press