“Freedmen definitely deserve reparations... because we need to be repaired for the trauma that was suffered … whether it be physical, mental, generational, [or] emotional.”

Lamar Williams Jr. (lah-mar will-yumz)

member of the Dosar Barkus Band

IMAGE SOURCE: Unattributed archival etching in “Florida History: The Black Seminoles.” Blog Post. The Land Journal. 22 Jun. 2020. | TEXT SOURCE: Juliana Clark. “Black Seminoles were left behind in COVID-19 Tribal relief.” Prism Reports. 2 Mar. 2021.

IMAGE SOURCE: Unattributed archival etching in “Florida History: The Black Seminoles.” Blog Post. The Land Journal. 22 Jun. 2020. | TEXT SOURCE: Juliana Clark. “Black Seminoles were left behind in COVID-19 Tribal relief.” Prism Reports. 2 Mar. 2021.

QUOTE CONTEXT: “Seminoles on the Freedman Rolls exist in a liminal space, where they can claim tribal voting rights, but not CDIB ( Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood) cards or any other benefits afforded to American Indians “by blood.”

QUOTE QUESTION: Who must be called to account for the trauma suffered by your People?


IMAGE CONTEXT: “Traditionally, the underground railroad headed North toward freedom but a small portion of runaways instead turned South toward Florida.”

IMAGE QUESTION: What images of historical trauma do you want to remember or to forget?


MEDIA LITERACY CONTEXT: The quote is from a non-profit news outlet. The photo is from an historical etching.

MEDIA LITERACY QUESTION: Which media sources from the present day and from the distant past represent the struggles of your People?


LEARN ABOUT THE BLACK SEMINOLES: https://folklife.si.edu/resources/maroon/educational_guide/66.htm

DOWNLOAD THE BLACK SEMINOLES SLIDE DECK FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES:

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“This land is our land from the beginning. Through all the years we have lived here. We have buried our ancestors right here.”

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“I believe our ancestors are urging us… to present a story that never really was presented before…It seems as though they might be restful after the story is really brought out.”