The Melungeons: The Resurrection of a Proud People

This book, and the theories included, is beingproved by growing archival evidence and, just as importantly, new DNA research. The Melungeons do notdeny their multi-racial composition and, in fact,have all races represented on their leadership Board (MHA). But in addition to English, African, andNative American, their long-standing claims ofPortuguese, Turkish, East Indian, and Jewish heritage are finally being proved. As but one example, England was clearly ridding itself of Ottomans, Gypsies and Jews by sending them to America as indentured "English" settlers and servants in the 1600s. It's unfortunate thatsome people cannot grasp the reality that all humansare a wide composite of many races and that to insist on a simple three race component (tri-racial)and to ridicule long-standing oral traditions onorigins - is both closed minded and indicative of a lack of understanding of world population migrations. Kennedy occasionally goes out on limbs that most scholars would not, but more often than not he has been right. His work teaches us that,in essence, no one is who they think they are and this, I believe, is the first steptoward ending racism. I highly recommend his bookfor those who genuinely seek truth and have no political ax to grind. I applaud the fresh ground thathe has plowed.Sami Ferliel, Ph.D.Retired FacultyYuzuncu Yil UniversityVan, Turkey

I enjoyed the book very much. My family "The Thompson" was from Knox Co. Kentucky. My greatgrandmother was Katherine Wells. They left Kentucky and came to Oklahoma where there my father Robert Thompson married Clara James. So many people in Oklahoma have some Indian blood. I remember well people asking my grandfather Robert Wilson Thompson what tribe he was from. He would tell them he was "Black Dutch". I never knew where "Black Dutch" cames from. My mother's grandfather was Thomas L. Rowland. She had heard her mother say he was "Black Dutch". We have the black hair and very blue eyes. This help me to understand the term better and I want to looking in more. Wanda Thompson Hines- McKinney, Texas .

The traditional picture of the peoples of early America, white, black, and red, is an inaccurate one. This country is dotted with hundreds of peoples who may be closer to one or the other of the above three categories, but who don't really fit in any of them. These include the Ramapo Mountain People of New York and New Jersey, the Brass Ankles of South Carolina, the Redbones of Louisiana and numerous other groups, some of whom are completely unknown outside of their regions.The most celebrated of these peoples are the Melungeons of western Virgina, eastern Kentucky, and eastern Tennessee and this book is an attempt to write their history. I say "attempt" because until fairly recently, one did not describe oneself as a Melungeon or a Brass Ankle; these were perjorative terms used by outsiders and were strenously and sometimes violently objected to. Consequently, America is filled with people whose families moved around a lot, whose genealogies are muddled if they have one at all and whose family stories are non-existent. People like me(I've pretty much decided that I'm a member of one of these groups, although I have no definite idea which one).According to Dr. Kennedy, the Melungeons may be the descendents of shipwrecked Spaniards, with Portuguese and even Turkish elements, who intermarried with Indians, escaped slaves and poorer whites. Indeed, when they were first encountered, they called themselves Portuguese even though they spoke English. As might be expected, documentation is sparse. Dr. Kennedy, a Melungeon, makes excellent use of his own family's history and genealogy. Some of his conclusions don't, it seems to me, seem completely warranted by what facts there are. But, all in all, this is fascinating book and an excellent beginning to in-depth research on these peoples. One can only hope that members of other such groups will follow Dr. Kennedy's lead. In the meantime, I cannot recommend this book too highly.

This is a fascinating look at a relatively unknown ethnic group that first hit the American shores in the 1500s, settling eventually in Appalachia, and taking on new ethnic strands through the centuries. Influences in the Melungeon ethnic make-up include possible Moorish, Iberian, Turkish, Anglo-Irish, American Indian, and others, resulting in an ethnic group that is just now becoming fully conscious of its roots. In addition to the human interest of the book, I found it fascinating from historical, cultural, and spiritual perspectives- I was reminded that we are all pretty mixed up from an ethnic perspective and yet we all come from the same Source. Mr. Kennedy, who is Melungeon, has done his own people a great service with this book, but also a great service for all Americans, who can learn a little more about their history, including the not-so-pleasant side. Highly recommended for anyone interested in U.S. history, the history of ethnic groups in America, the culture of Appalachia, or the history of a very interesting people, the Melungeons.

It is a book about the tragic treatment of people who were driven out of Muslim Spain by the Spanish Inquisition. Even the great Francis Drake failed to save them. Jews and Moorish slave rescue from the terrible Spanish and Portuguese. The book is an excelent read for all history buff, Find out if Nancy Hanks, the mother of Abraham Lincoln, was of Moorish decent ? A must read !!!