There was another commenter asking me if I had a problem with Blacks. No, not really. They got their story, we got ours. I don't think I ever deny the fact that we have African genes. But we didn't get any of the culture from the genes. I grant you, it's our loss. I mourn that daily. We had some tough times, but we did not have the "Black experience." My ancestors in this country were never slaves. Say what you will, but it made a difference in our experience as mixed-race Americans in the 17th, 18th, and 19th century inA these Americas.

Call us what you will: Melungeons, Redbones, Moors, Lumbees, it's all the same. There is very likely African blood, but we've been denying it/running from it for over 300 years, long enough that we have our own story and it ain't the more typical African-American experience born of slavery and segregation. We have nothing in common with that experience. We were on the other side. Any self-respecting American Black upon learning of this group of mixed-race people called Redbones by others would disavow any possible kinship, culturally or genealogically. We just have a different experience, and it does bug me when my story is claimed by others with no right to use it like were there own.