- Flash
- Feb 17
- 2 min read
While reading about the Trail of Tears, I was struck not only by the brutal displacement of Native American tribes but also by a lesser-known historical truth: the intertwining of Native American and African American histories during this tragic chapter of U.S. history.
The forced relocation of the Five Civilized Tribes—Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole—was a devastating ordeal. Thousands of Native Americans were uprooted from their ancestral lands, enduring unimaginable hardships as they were driven westward to designated reservations. The loss of life, the suffering, and the sheer injustice of it all make this one of the darkest episodes in American history.
Yet, one aspect of this story is rarely taught in schools or acknowledged in mainstream historical narratives: the presence of enslaved African Americans on the Trail of Tears. Many people are unaware that some Native American tribes, particularly those of the Five Tribes, owned enslaved African Americans. These enslaved individuals were not just bystanders to history—they were forcibly marched alongside their Native American owners, enduring the same brutal conditions and hardships.
Historical records reveal that, by 1860, nearly 14% of the Choctaw Nation’s population was composed of enslaved African Americans, and the Cherokee Nation alone held over 1,500 enslaved individuals. Many Native Americans, particularly those who had adopted European-style agriculture and economies, operated large farms and even plantations, mirroring the Southern slaveholding system.
Documents such as the Dawes Rolls and records from the Freedmen’s Bureau provide detailed accounts of individuals categorized by name, race, and tribal affiliation—including those who were classified as Freedmen. These records serve as crucial resources for descendants tracing their ancestry and uncovering the layered complexities of their heritage.
It may come as a surprise to some that Native Americans participated in the institution of slavery, as it is often solely associated with white landowners. However, history is rarely as straightforward as we are taught. In fact, there were even Black farmers who owned enslaved people, adding yet another layer to the intricate and painful legacy of slavery in America.
As we reflect on the Trail of Tears, we must remember that its devastation extended beyond the Native Americans who were forcibly removed from their lands. The enslaved African Americans who walked that same harrowing path endured a dual oppression—forced from one form of bondage into yet another. Their stories, often overshadowed, deserve to be told with the same urgency and reverence.
History is never just one story. It is a tapestry woven with threads of resilience, suffering, and survival. When we recount the Trail of Tears, let us also lift the voices of all of those who endured the horrendous trek, ensuring that their stories are no longer forgotten.
