What it means to identify as Melungeon

[@melissageiger71]

Mr. Harris, I'd have never guessed that you were 70.. Looking good sir, looking good

[@christinespencer191]

@@melissageiger71 Yes!! That shocked me! He looks fantastic, but especially to be 70.

[@Livelife257]

70 Years old….Wow! He looks GREAT!!

[@summercarr3521]

Exactly what I was thinking!!

[@written12]

Yeah, he certainly does.

[@DSAK55]

melougeon don't crack 😁

[@Livelife257]

If we got rid of being just “BLACK or WHITE” we would learn a lot of interesting DETAILS about our ancestry.

[@shamashatum7927]

So true these are false outdated labels

[@stephanieyee9784]

As someone who used to work for the Australian Bureau of Statistics, I can tell you now that for official purposes, race/colour/religion are all important categories. The reason we are asked such questions and given multiple choices is for such things as demographics in a particular area. If there is a greater population of Chinese people, or Muslims, or elderly people in a suburb, the local, state, and federal government can plan amenities and services appropriately. You aren't going to put low-density housing in an expensive suburb. Or a huge Christian cathedral in a mostly Muslim area. I am of very mixed race, thank goodness, and despite looking European, ("Are you Grrrreeek?", is something I'm asked often, and no, I'm not Greek), I am one ⅓ Asian. 36% , actually. So I can blend in anywhere and identify as Caucasian. You are whatever you are. Own it.

[@stephanieyee9784]

Do an ancestry DNA test. You'll find out a hell of a lot more about who and what you are.

[@howlinwulf]

Many of us are mixed with other races almost all of us

[@howlinwulf]

​@@stephanieyee9784DNA testing gets you on another government list

[@user-gb7vx5qu3h]

That was awesome. The multi-racial identity of most Americans, seems still to be a challenge for communities to fully embrace and understand. Raising awareness of the many cultures and communities that incorporate more than one cultural tradition, and then also meld into the American landscape, where their generations of family live and congregate for periods of time, is a fascinating and valuable part of American heritage and culture. A recent politician's remarks that a multi-racial presidential candidate, "Turned Black", because she fully recognised both of her cultural and racial identities, shows how resistant come may be, to understanding that we are actually ALL multi-racial. Some families or communities just have more distinct groups that have blended in areas where families don't move away, so new, identifiable blended groups become more defined, and have more or a new identity they share with other families with similar blends of originating cultural/geographical groups. It's fascinating and wonderful to learn of these complexities and the equanimity of how the groups became communities of their own, adn blended and engaged seamlessly with surrounding communities, as I've heard was the case in much of Appalachia, where common, "mountaineer" identity trumped racial distinctions.

[@SoldierOfJah]

Do all melungeons also defy the laws of aging?! Cuz when he said 70!!!!

[@rebekahklein3982]

I loved listening to this gentleman speak and answer questions. Well informed and calming.☺️

[@lindaedwards9756]

I love that !! Can’t erase history, there is good and bad….can’t change it by ignoring it. I am so glad this gentleman was kind enough to give us his perspective. All people are beautiful.

[@TheRenaissanceHillbilly]

My mother's family kept our Melungeon roots hidden. I never heard the word until I was in my 30s. We were always just White with Cherokee to explain the darker complexions. It turns out we are from one of the core Melungeon families. My third great--grandfather was one of 11 Melungeon men indicated for voting because free colored (Black) people were not allowed to vote in Tennessee. That followed my family until at least the 1940s, when the Virginia Registrar of Vital Records tried to have all of his descendants banned from White schools. My mother was 12 at the time.

[@habibahq4272]

Wow! please elaborate. my family is also melungeon from Tennessee! Goins, Bells etc...many DNA matches in grainger, sneedsville, Jonesborough. FPOC on the census lists!

[@PrettyNchildfree]

This is interesting my great grandpa is from Tennessee and we were always told he was Cherokee and White, now It’s possible that could have been Melungeon. I have to do some research

[@malindawilczynski2774]

It was so important to my GM to keep the heritage hidden, including not displaying and later destroying family pictures. However the DNA tells the truth.

[@lindaedwards9756]

Heartbreaking ❤️‍🩹 she was made to feel that way . She would be proud of your courage to be who you are.

[@Wisdomforthehour]

Oh wow. This comment is very interesting. I wonder what your GM knew about them? I'd love to know more if you'd be willing to share. My family is from the same people group but they settled in the west due to persecutions.

[@crptnite]

It's wild to be 43.5 years old and finding out I was never a "white" woman, I'm actually a Ginger Melungeon. This is likely why I always checked "other" on forms when asked about my ethnicity. I never actually identified as a "white" person- people just assumed based on my complexion. Speaking of complexions, this gentleman's skin tone is amazing! Blessings on your Journey, sir 💜🙏🏽🕊️

[@backintimealwyn5736]

if you look white, then you're white , maybe with some black ancestors. It's time to drop those absurd racial 'rules" that have nothing to do with science.

[@MelJackson-j8f]

So that means you're a red head mixed raced person from W. VA or OH?

[@DeeJay2421]

I'm just now hearing the word "Melungeon"

[@annairwin8147]

Me too and I’m 76!!!!!

[@daddygrace253]

Hillsboro, North Carolina is close to where my family is from in Durham, North Carolina. I have never heard of Melungeon. I have heard of Lumbee Indians. The man in the interview looks like the average black man walking down Fayetteville Street, Alston Avenue, or Dowd Street in Durham, North Carolina.

[@cynthiaholland13]

@@daddygrace253 oh I'm in that area and also never heard of it

[@dlawrengreen]

The Lumbees are members of the Melungeon communities in the South.

[@dlawrengreen]

@@alisharenee7045 For clarity, I did not say Mr. Harris is Lumbee. I am saying, more generally, Lumbees are members of the Melugeon communities in the South. As defined, Melungeon is a general term for tri-racial isolate communities of people with mixed ancestry from European, African, and Native American backgrounds. In Virginia, I am related to mixed-race Melungeons with the surname Goins, who also intermarried with Native Americans in present-day Robeson County, NC. As for me, I am related to Lumbees through my Black ancestors in Southeastern North Carolina. Based on several DNA tests, I am 3-5% Native American, which indicates this person is my 4th or 5th great-grandparent. I am darker than Mr. Harris. I indentify as African-American.

[@dlawrengreen]

@@alisharenee7045 For clarity, I am not saying that Mr. Harris is Lumbee. I am saying that, more generally, Lumbees are members of the of the Melungeon communities in the South. As defined, Melungeon is a general term for tri-racial isolate communities of people with combined European, African, and Indigenous ancestry. As for me, I am related to Melungeons in Virginia through mixed-race people with the surname Goins who also intermarried with Native Americans in present-day Robeson County, NC. More specifically, I am related to Lumbees through my Black ancestors in Southeastern North Carolina. Based on several DNA tests, I am 3-5% Native American, which indicates this person is my 4th-5th great-grandparent. I am darker the Mr. Harris. I identify as African-American.

[@dlawrengreen]

@@alisharenee7045 For clarity, I am not saying Mr. Harris is Lumbee. I am saying that Lumbees are members of the Melungeon communities in the South. As defined, Melungeons are isolated communities of mixed-race people of combined European, African, and Indigenous ancestry.

[@dominiquedoeslife]

I’m melungeon. This video is so validating and so important. So thankful that it exists.

[@Meyra791]

@@dominiquedoeslife Hi. İs that possible that your ancestors maybe came from Turkey with the ships and than was kidnapped? Because i read an article about that. Sorry for my question 🙏greetings from Germany.

[@dominiquedoeslife]

@@Meyra791Hey. Don’t be sorry. It’s a valid question. All I can really say is that I’m a millennial, and I’m still piecing together my ethnic identity. If you learn anything interesting, I’d love to hear it. I took a dna test, and it turns out I’m pan-African-with Bantu ancestry, Native American, Iberian, and European, which is apparently a common result for many Melungeon people. If you’re interested in learning more about your own dna, there is actually a Melungeon dna test out there.

[@Meyra791]

@ ok, thank you 🙏🙋🏻‍♀️

[@Hollylivengood]

I learned about the Melungeons while reading about the Maroons. One of the historians had noted that the DNA found in Melungeons is so varied, Spanish, French African American, Irish. He had only a theory, based on being from the area and knowing the history of the area well. They know Maroon communities were there from De Soto's march through Appalachia in the 1600s. Because those conquistadores didn't march without an army of slaves to do all the work for them. Along with indentured people. And nobody liked life under DeSoto, so his theory was, when the slaves made a break for it, more than likely a number of Spanish soldiers went with them. Irish run aways, or any runaways joined them later. Because when they were first mentioned by incomers in the 1700s, they were described as so successful and knowledgeable about guns. Not saying runaway slaves wouldn't be successful, I'm saying if you were escaping a ravaging psychopath like DeSoto, you're not likely to make it without a little army on your side. It's just a theory, but it seems a practical one.

[@Wisdomforthehour]

Very very interesting. My guess is that the Spanish conquistadors were sent over to make sure groups like the Millenian's as well as the Moreno's on the West Coast, which I believe are identical races, would not prosper or become widespread because they were a powerful people because they were close to God and God gave them power And abilities that seemed not humanly. Like angels.

[@afromystik4365]

I’ve been doing my genealogy and I have dna matches with the names Mullins, Williams and Goins! Interesting!!

[@ronwinkles2601]

All three family names are key members of the original Melungeon Families of Newman's Ridge in today's Hancock County, Tennessee. You would also be related to the Collins and Gibson Families.

[@Joe-u3t9c]

@@afromystik4365 my boss is a Mullins, and his ancestors fought for the the confederation, I’m a goins/goings and they fought for the union.

[@TurnmeupSantanaMusic]

we could be related somehow i have Goins & williams in my family also along with Freeman

[@Ilovetheword921]

I love learning this is amazing everybody not just black or white,you must know your history

[@Pitbullsareevil6969]

I am melougeon. I might look white but I am glad I am melougeon. I am glad I was place by God this heritage.

[@lindaedwards9756]

Absolutely 👍

[@Livelife257]

@@Pitbullsareevil6969 do you identify as white on paper and in your social groups? What’s that like?

[@Pitbullsareevil6969]

@@Livelife257 well. Good question. I put down white. It makes things easier. Some people don’t understand history. My dad, and brother and uncle and deceased grandpa had olive skin with Caucasian features. So passing white back then was critical for social class back in the day. I put down white because I look white. But deep down I am Melougeon. People need to realize our ethnic group is diverse in skin tone and history. But we share a common culture.

[@Livelife257]

@@Pitbullsareevil6969 thanks for informing me on your background, I appreciate the knowledge as this topic is very new to me. I’ve only heard mixed people being known as one term which I’m unsure if it’s derogatory to you or not so I won’t quote it. Starts with an “m” ends with an “o”. How does being melungeon know influence your stance on racism, or does it since you identify as white?(not assuming all white people are racists).

[@Pitbullsareevil6969]

@@Livelife257 I am from a mix family. My family is mixed ethnically anyway. I view racism as evil. I find every human being an image of God as my Christian culture teaches. So hating someone as a different color or ethnic group is just pure evil. Now I realize that race is a real thing I don’t deny it’s real. It’s very much a real thing. I have White, African and Native ancestory. I am mixed. My father has olive reddish skin with black long hair. I say white because I am white skinned. But I see myself as just Melougeon. I am a little darker than most whites. But it ain’t much noticeable compared to my dad and brother. It not uncommon for siblings in Melougeon families to have different skin tones and hair colors. But racially I see myself as Melougeon as a Hispanic see themselves as Hispanic. Hispanics are mixed. I am mixed. I am just a smaller minority in the American populace. But racism is evil and backwards. Those that are racist have a mental illness to hate others based on skin color. But I am from the south. Things have changed so so much in my lifetime. Racism is not tolerated no more. It’s taboo. And it’s a good thing. But you must realize that white southerners and black southerners and melougeons, creoles and Cajuns share a similar culture.

[@karlahaverlah6072]

I too ,look at everyone and try to conclude their ethnicity. I have many dead ends leading to Melungeon heritage. I never thought that I had free people of color in my descendants.

[@cynthiapickett7403]

Very interesting; I have partial Melungeon ancestry (only recently discovered) myself.

[@JohnSmith-cd1cq]

The appalachain storytellers channel does a great documentary on KZbin. I live very close to clinch mountain and have been around "over home" folks my entire life. One of the most famous melungeons was a lady named mahallia Mullins. There are videos about her as well on yt. Hancock county tennessee has always been welcoming to me and my family my whole life. Many many lifelong friends are there and from there.

[@yannad5615]

Wow he looks just like my dad whose mother came from Virginia. She didn’t talk much about her past. Would have never known about this.

[@guyfaux3978]

The tri-racial identity is common in Brazil, and there used to be all sorts of Portuguese terms for people of specific quantums of this background or that background.

[@sherriekirby1585]

I was born in southwestern VA, spent all my summers there. We knew &:saw Melungeons but we never avoided or talked negatively about them. When I asked my grandparents about them they just said they liked to stay to themselves & were a little wild. None of my family that I know of thought negatively about them, curious I suppose

[@kingmiller1982]

I love this segment!

[@VailRyan]

My father's mother was. Her family name was Flores, which they pronounced like "floors".

[@Sean-qy1ex]

A lot of Europe who came to America was also dark skin centuries ago when middle eastern tribes invaded Europe a lot of them went to the new world America and classified as Native American black or Hispanic still today America only thinks of 3 groups white black or Hispanic Mix but it’s not all are ancient ancestors didn’t identify as color we had tribe names that most ppl lost there identity

[@jeffreymccomas3281]

The melungeon people have longer life spans too

[@Ukeepthelies8471]

Lots of people of Melungeon ancestry, to look at them, they look white.

[@code-52]

I am melungeon. It's more than just mixed DNA. It is a mixed race culture, isolated in the appalachian mountains. We developed a unique culture and physicalities, not known to other people.

[@howlinwulf]

My wife is melungeon. And beautiful!!!

[@ronwinkles2601]

My Father always said, "Melungeon women are just black enough to be beautiful!".

[@rastarob4117]

Proud Melougen❤

[@beverlyodom-jackson2329]

Yes we are all tri racial my family is from Georgia

[@ronwinkles2601]

Some of the Melungeon Families moved from Hancock and Hawkins County, Tennessee to North Georgia in the 1830's to avoid being forced into the Trail of Tears and moved to Oklahoma. Look for relationship to the Bunch, Collins and Gibson Families.

[@vernessatucker8647]

Wow, I would have never guessed he was 70. He looks great.

[@randywatkins3306]

Has any one traced it back in time ? Have u followed your blood line too it's beginning ?

[@jeffreymccomas3281]

I am melungeon my skin is dark red in summer and just a little lighter in the winter months I have features from all three races My hair is really naturally curly and my eyes are gray I've traced my family to the Appalachian region of Virginia and West Virginia but that's as far as I've made it but anyway I am melungeon

[@muragarasu6384]

learned a few years ago that I'm a Melungeon, Collins is my last name. I was told growing up that my grandmother was a native American woman, and judging from stories and items she owned I saw she may have thought so herself as well. When I did my DNA test recently the results were predominantly Irish and Scottish, with some Scandinavian, English, eastern European, north African and Nigerian. Very cool stuff, interesting to find others from this mysterious group

[@pamallen2498]

My grandparents wouldn't talk about their backgrounds either.

[@AjWard-nh5tp]

Everybody mixed up, it's pointless to worry about it. 🙂

[@NaturallyGifted77]

True! We are all humans that is what matters

[@AjWard-nh5tp]

@My_pfp_beats_all_dog_breeds. pure what

[@ashley1919100]

@My_pfp_beats_all_dog_breeds. no

[@Hollylivengood]

Not with a history like the Melungeons. They didn't get there because they were conquering, violent, people. They got there because they were resilient people, who lived really really well.

[@deadtome5381]

@@AjWard-nh5tp it's just very interesting because I have all the trades like the teeth and the bump on my head but I have blue eyes and blonde hair but I do have a lot of copper red in it as well I was born a strawberry blonde.

[@J.WinkN184]

Hi, Thank you for sharing!💯💖💖🤗 I'm not 70 but people Tell me i look 45 or 50?🤔💖💖🤗🤗🤣So happy I stubbled across your work n thoughts!I practiced the same while being in Europe?I picked up some bits and pieces during My child hood n Georgia?I asked questions but everyone seems to be closed and afraid to speak openly or just don't want to know about it??I recognized in my circle and other's a lot of dark skinned Men had lighter Wives?No one spoke of it?But i saw it!I know for a fact something happened in West Virginia??

[@DavidPerry-do6xt]

Abe Lincoln Elvis Ava Gardner

[@cedricliggins7528]

@@DavidPerry-do6xt Johnny Cash

[@annairwin8147]

We are All God’s children 💕

[@Wisdomforthehour]

No. No we are not actually. Jesus said some are of the seed or DNA of the fallen angel Satan who is still changing the DNA of mankind today. Read the Bible dear one. That is contrary to truth.

[@514Exc]

I don’t believe there is a dna group for Sicily, the south shares more African ancestry than northern Italy. He may be Sicilian ancestry, historical darker skinned, prior to losing independence

[@StarLove1976]

I’ve always disliked having to pick a racial identity. I’ve always known that I was Mulatto but like he said even if you have an ounce of African and Indigenous blood you are considered black/african American. In my case I have both plus European..

[@backintimealwyn5736]

but this is an old racist "rule" from ages ago, I don't understand why americans keep abiding by it. Everywhere in the world it is accepted that people can be mixed and just... don't obsess over "what they are". We talk about it lightly and it does'nt define us.

[@tc2333]

@@StarLove1976 Same here.

[@StarLove1976]

@@backintimealwyn5736 you are so right!! It is racist. We are human beings and we are all one race. Just different shades and hues..

[@JohnRichard-GOCU]

Thank you, Mr. Harris, for your input. We Americans are a mixed group. Now what did Native Americans call themselves before white people came over? I'm thinking they identified as tribes.

[@tigertone1]

These people , my people are part of the aborignal tribes that have been on this land for eons .

[@DeeJay2421]

Wow, he's 70? Well, something don't crack.

[@dkidder1367]

interesting topic. I have native american mi'kmaq and unknown origins, along with french and english. I'm not real comfortable checking the white/caucasian box. He looks great at 70; very surprised. I share his passion for being in the woods

[@broadwaydebut1]

I’m sorry to say and shameful that Italian used the word melogean as a slur. In Italian melongean is an eggplant

[@guyfaux3978]

You're mixing up moolinyon and melungeon-- the latter is derived from the French word "melange," i.e., a combination.

[@Hollylivengood]

Here's the thing, before you make statements like this, you have to at least read about the language. Melan Zana is Italian for egg plant. Melungeon came from French. Mélange, which means a mixture. It started out as a plain description, was used as an insult, then Melungeons took it back as their own.

[@deadtome5381]

Yes my grandmother who was a foster child and her mother had her sister and her when she was 12 and 14 respectively used to say it incorrectly like Mulan Johnny. That's how it sounded when she said it as mullin I have a lot of the mulgeon traits,he'd ridge, teeth, etc. my mother had very rare a b blood type, I question what blood types are common in this mixture.

[@tc2333]

My parents particularly on my mom's side would name the group of tri-racial people but never really used or known the name melungeon.

[@Tubulous123]

Yes!!! Thank you!! 1Nation4Life

[@NaomiSims-w5g]

I understand there's also a group of people in Louisiana that is of unknown ancestry.

[@reddy11-11]

“You got it honest” it would really be interesting to see what that really meant back in the day 🤔I have to be honest, it sounds weird in a search for identity situation.

[@reginafenner8691]

Triracial is all around my people are from Newbern NC Perkins Goins, George , Locklear etc

[@budgygirl2448]

I'm also a melungeon but i always just called myself a mutt 😊

[@IrvTheReaper]

Lincoln was Melungeon, we've been here forever

[@karengayehammat4199]

🌞Why did my ancestors pass on hairiness All the other races can say thank god we aren't like that

[@oilofgladness3474]

He looks more like 50. Wow

[@prizmm3416]

Unbelievable…dedicated the required minutes watching this content, and saw a Blackman with nonblack ancestors bemoaning the face n the mirror. He’s that nonwhite spirit that that confuses his physical portrayal as “ less than” so he trots out his Indigenous great-grandmother. Fact is Indian we’re no more successful against American imperialism than enslaved Israelites/ Blacks….and I’m 70 soon.

[@godsloverevealed5003]

Most African-Americans are mixed-race or Melungeons, so I don't understand the uniqueness of this group.

[@muragarasu6384]

The reason this group is unique is because they are a specific community of people and not just mixed raced people in general. Melungeons were not born between slave owner and slave as many people mixed with black are, instead the Melungeons were born from unions of free people of color and European indentured servants who lived together within a community of Native Americans (who for some families also had children with these people thus creating the tri-racial group, and for some others simply started the story of being Native) Melungeons were ostracized by the outside community and identified by their low education and specific looks (dark skin, pale eyes, straight dark hair, high cheek bones) and remained isolated for generations, which led to inbreeding and marrying between other Melungeon families within the community, so thats why they can easily be identified by last names a lot of the time. These days the majority of Melungeons appear either mostly or fully white passing but there are still some physical traits shared between us. what makes Melungeons interesting is that all of us kind of have different DNA mixtures and a lot of our family stories don't exactly line up + many of our families were illiterate and very poor in the Appalachian mountains so it can be difficult to trace the families on a paper trail, so there's a bit of a mysterious 'where did we actually come from' element

[@PinkTorpedo909]

For Gods sake man change the batteries to the smoke alarm!!!

[@standingbear998]

claiming you can tell ancestory by looking at someone is bogus. Identifying people by their t shirt? melungeon does not mean black people. I completely agree that people are more mixed around the world than people believe . we are all human that's all.

[@Sndyj457]

@@standingbear998 yeah I’ll believe you over this man 🙄

[@ryancreech7253]

Not a real thing

[@DSAK55]

🤡🤡