The Choctaw Freedmen of Oklahoma
This information on this page, pertains to the more
than 6000 Choctaw Freedmen found on the Dawes rolls, The Special Indian census
of 1910, and 1900, then 1885 Choctaw Roll and more. There were less than
100 freedmen who left the nation in the 1880s right before adoption, who
elected to leave due to many hostilities directed towards them in some
localities. The vast majority of Choctaw Freedmen, remained in the land
where they were born, had lived, married, toiled, and buried their
dead. Many spoke the language, maintained the dietary customs of their
Choctaw kin, and many also buried according to Choctaw custom. There
are those to this day who deny their existence, others who claim the right to
still deny many in SE Oklahoma their rights as citizens because of the African
Choctaw blood. Many of these persons, citizens of a nation that rejects
them, are still of the Choctaw Nation, and this page is devoted to honoring
their memory.
Choctaw-Chickasaw
Freedman's Association
Choctaw
Freedmen Show Solidarity with Expelled Choctaws
Historical Data for Choctaw Freedmen:
1885 Choctaw Freedmen
Admitted to Citizenship
1885
The Sixty-Nine Choctaw
Freedmen Who Elected to Leave the Nation
1885 Doubtful
Claims--Choctaw Freedmen
Literature about the
Choctaw Freedmen
Choctaw Freedman
Surnames
Frances Banks, Choctaw
Freedwoman
Polly Colbert, Choctaw
Freedwoman
Choctaw Freedmen
Dawes Rolls A-B
Choctaw Freedmen
Dawes Rolls C-D-E
Choctaw Freedmen
Dawes Rolls F - G
Choctaw Freedmen
Dawes Rolls H - K
Black Indian Slave
Narratives
Life and Culture of
the Freedmen
Brought to Indian Territory in the 1830's Black Choctaws
arrived with the Choctaw Indians as slaves. Prior to removal the Choctaws had
been exposed to Africans in their native homeland of Mississippi. Slaves were a
part of the European culture to which the Choctaws would later adapt. Slavery
would be one of the institutions the nation would adopt. Chief Moshulatubbee had
slaves as did many of the Europeans who married into the nation, with the
Folsoms and LeFlores among the larger slave owners.
The only family of distinct free status in the Choctaw Nation at the time of
removal was the Beams family, children of Nellie Beams. Though their status was
later challenged by their half Choctaw siblings who sought to sell them for
profit, their recognized status as free Choctaw citizens was noted by their
fellow citizens. A full account of the saga of this family is found in the
Journal of Negro History 1976. Slavery remained in the Choctaw Nation, till
1866, when the Treaty of 1866 signed in Ft. Smith, Arkansas requiring that The
Choctaws release their Africans from bondage.
Most "Freedmen" remained in the nation, and began new lives as
citizens among their fellow compatriots. Much discussion arose in the nation
after the signing of the Treaty, and many in the nation had pressed to have the
Freedmen removed from the Choctaw Nation. However, a majority of the Freedmen
remained steadfast, determined to remain in the land of their birth, as law
abiding Choctaw citizens. After discussion, debate, and years of political
strategizing, in 1885, the Choctaw Nation finally adopted their former slaves as
citizens into the nation. Their status would give them a legal right to remain
and no longer to be considered as intruders in the land of their birth.
Prominent persons arose from the Choctaw Freedmen. Henry Crittendon, would
become a leader in the education community, at the time of the establishment of
the Choctaw Freedmen Oak Hill Academy. In the area of law enforcement would
emerge persons such as Rufus Cannon, and the noted Squire Hall, who would serve
the Territory as
Marshall and deputy sheriff, respectively. Leaders would also
surface to become spokes persons for their communities, and would speak through
their leadership in the Choctaw Freedman's Association.
In 1885, after adoption of the Freedmen, the first official census of the
Choctaw Freedmen was taken. Names, ages, names of former Choctaw slave owners
were recorded, in addition to the amount of personal property amassed by each
family. Researchers are invited to visit these pages, and to learn more about
the lives of these several thousand Africans of the Choctaw Nation. More pages
will be added over the next several weeks.
(All data on this page compiled by Angela Y. Walton-Raji. Inquiries concerning
permission to use data can be obtained by contacting, AngelaW859@aol.com)
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