Brian HalpinJun 27, 2023

The E half of the USA is dotted with places described as "tri-racial isolate communities".

One of the largest such groups is found in E KY, WV, E TN, and western parts of VA.

Widely known as "Melungeons", few Americans have been the subject of such intense curiosity.

Who are these people? 

In this 3rd and final installment of a 3-part episode, we complete our exploration of an American enigma.

Listen here:

https://beforewewerewhite.podbean.com/e/episode-12-no-safe-harbor-part-3/

#BeforeWeWereWhite #history #melungeons #genealogy

Episode 12: No Safe Harbor, Part 3 | Before We Were White

The eastern half of the continental USA is dotted with places inaccurately described as "tri-racial isolate communities". One of the largest such population groups can be found spread over Eastern Kentucky, the western parts of Virginia, East Tennessee, and West Virginia. Widely known as "Melungeons", few Americans have been the subject of such intense scrutiny and curiosity. Who are these people?  And why are they called "Melungeons"?   In this third and final installment of a three-part episode, we complete our exploration of this Appalachian and American enigma.  Is this a story about weirdly exotic or isolated people - or is it a story about the lies and myths at the heart of American identity itself? #BeforeWeWereWhite #history #melungeons #genealogy #GeneticGenealogy

Brian HalpinMay 27, 2023

Appalachians known as "Melungeons" have been a subject of curiosity for many decades.

Who are these people?

Continuing our exploration of an Appalachian enigma, we ask why so many of these mountain folks claim Portuguese ancestry, even while outsiders dismiss such folk memory.

Is this a story about weirdly exotic or isolated people - or is it a story about the lies and myths at the heart of American identity itself?

https://beforewewerewhite.podbean.com/e/episode-11-no-safe-harbor-part-2/

#history #melungeons #genealogy #appalachia

Episode 11: No Safe Harbor, Part 2 | Before We Were White

The eastern half of the continental USA is dotted with places often described as "tri-racial isolate communities". One of the largest such population groups can be found spread over Eastern Kentucky, the western parts of Virginia, East Tennessee, and West Virginia. Widely known as "Melungeons", few Americans have been the subject of such intense scrutiny and curiosity. Who are these people?  Where did they come from?   In this episode, we continue our exploration of an Appalachian enigma - asking why so many of these mountain people always claimed Portuguese ancestry, even while outsiders dismissed such folk memory.    Is this a story about weirdly exotic or isolated people - or is it a story about the lies and myths at the heart of American identity itself?

Brian HalpinMay 12, 2023

The "other" American Gothic.

Don't forget to tell your friends about the Before We Were White podcast!

It's American history, but not as you know it.

www.beforewewerewhite.com

#AmericanHistory #appalachia #RaceIsASocialConstruct #EthnicStudies #whitewashing #melungeons

Show threadSam AdamsDec 17, 2022
After a century of marriages to whites outside the Melungeon community, many began to "pass," despite efforts by Virginia to root out those with #Meluungeon heritage and remove them from white schools. Now, another 80 years on, Meluungeon descendents are mostly white, but are reclaiming the heritage that was lost through years of discrimination. #Melungeons are joined by descendents of many similar groups from West Virginia to Louisiana and Texas. 2/3
Sam AdamsDec 17, 2022
200 years ago in Tennessee, there was a mysterious group of people known to their neighbors as #Melungeons. Some said they were "friendly #Indians," others called them the N word. Many self-identified as #Portuguese.
None had been slaves and while they could own land, they were not allowed to vote until after 1846, when my great-great-great grandfather and 10 other Melungeon men were acquitted after being indicted for voting while they were not white. 1/3
Justin Durand 🏳️‍🌈Nov 19, 2022

What is the current thinking on #Melungeons #Genealogy? Last I dived in, I came to the conclusion it was mostly hogwash.

I'm #CurrentlyReading Elizabeth Caldwell Hirschmann, "Melungeons: The Last Lost Tribe in America" (2005).

Such confident assertions! Is any of this actually supported by anything more than speculation and wishful thinking?

Brian HalpinNov 7, 2022

Do you love maps? I love maps.

This blog link and map is for placing multi-ethnic Appalachia in a spatial context.

https://beforewewerewhite.com/2022/09/17/mapping-old-mix-appalachia/

#history #appalachia #ethnicity #melungeons