Here is a bit of information about such group of people and the mystery surrounding their origins.
Ramapough Mountain People
Photo credit: Credit Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times
30 miles outside New York City, in New Jersey’s Appalachians, exists a mysterious population known as the Ramapough Mountain People. Some describe them as inbred gypsies. Others insist they are albinos sired by a circus sideshow performer. As late as 2015, people still claimed the “Jackson Whites” were an inbred lot of renegade Indians, escaped slaves, Hessian mercenaries, and West Indian prostitutes. The reality is they are the Ramapough Lenape Indians.
Many Ramapough Lenape share surnames like De Groot, De Freiss, Van der Donk, and Mann. Composed of Afro-Dutch runaway slaves and the Lenape Indians, some took their names of their masters. Others adopted the names of prominent New Yorkers to hide their ancestry. They face discrimination from all sides because they do not meet Native American stereotypes. In 1993, Donald Trump claimed “they don’t look like Indians to me.” The Ramapough Lenape even had trouble being accepted by other natives.
I have to agree with the fact that they, as a people, don't look the same as other Native Americans. You do have to wonder just what their complete ancestry is. Another of Mother Natures musteries, I reckon.
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. It's raining out on the patio.
Back in the 80's I met some of these people. They were such nice people even with all the persecution they have had to go through. In this day an age DNA would clear this up. Trump go grief!
ReplyDeleteThe weather here this morning is beautiful 57 this morning loving it.
Used to live right in that area, Mr. Hermit. They stayed to mostly to themselves and no one wandered into their territory. I know they tried to get recognition as an Indian tribe. Will have to research further. They were mostly Lenape Indian, Black, Algonquian and Dutch. The Ramapo Mountains run through the NY and NJ's north eastern borders.
ReplyDeleteI agree with JO, a DNA test would clear things up.
ReplyDeleteAnd then you have the Mulungeons of the Appalachia and the thoroughly mixed up Seminoles of Florida.
ReplyDeletePhoto looks kinda like you, Bubba. We've been told that Grandma King had Indian blood, and our high cheekbones and her large ears would attest to that, but musta been from her mother's side since we have all the other family info.
ReplyDeleteWhatta ya think? Are we maybe some of these? Sue and I are very pale, like proper Southern Belles, but maybe we're some of these guys?
Bug hugs ~