Chavis Family
This is my family.
Kenny is my distant cousin.
I came back to this site after reading an article concerning TNCIA and a Melungeon group, in order to ask a question and to get the other side of things. Others graciously answered my questions and I thank them.
When I saw all of the other arguing and constant back and forth I decided that I wouldn't bother to hang around until things had cleared out a bit. Don't think that will happen any time soon but....
I saw all of this while checking responses and since this is my family, I felt the need to respond. I really can't believe how people can read one person's version of things and presume and draw conclusions concerning people that they obviously know nothing about. I've watched over the years while people have called my family no good, thieves, murders and now "women with loose morals."
If you care to know anything more than the "bad" of it all, I can tell you another side of these people.
First off, I still have my Mother, knew and lived with my Grandmother and my Great Grandmother. I knew their parents, grandparents and great grandparents through them and what they shared with me. My Great Grandmother lived to be 102.
I was raised as an Indian. Not French, Black, Portuguese, Jewish or anything else. There may have been some of these things mixed in down the line (no doubt) but it wasn't who they were or we are. For some time I was confused about all of this that others were saying that we were, found that others called us this but we didn't (at least my direct line)call ourselves these things. My confusion with all of this started when I realized later in life and from an older relative that our family called themselves Cherokee only, and completely dropped any reference to those who are today known as the Lumbee.
I now know why this was done but don't feel the need to elaborate here. I identify myself as both Cherokee and Lumbee.
My family just like anyone else's had both good and bad but they also had the labels of others.
Thieves? Well, what some call theft, others call survival.
If your children were starving to death, I would imagine that you'd do what you had to keep them alive and yes, it happened. Of course had all that they owned not been stolen from them, it wouldn't have been necessary. Most of the "thieving" labels were the direct result of crooked neighbors who set up the family to look like thieves, in order swindle them out of their land and possessions.
Had it not been for another relative who was allotted land by the gov. where they could all live, they surely would have died.
Many in the family had several children and they also took in the children of relatives and neighbors. Rather or not the children were their biological children, nieces, nephews, what have you, they raised them and called them their own.
Once again, like other families, they weren't all pure as the driven snow but you shouldn't form your opinions on the assumptions of others.
One other thing, you can't simply do the genealogy and make yourself this, that, or the other. You are what you were raised to be. I'm by no means "full" anything but I was raised to know that I am Indian and that's what I am. I was also raised to love all of my family. To stand by them even when they've done wrong and defend them when they've been wronged. I don't necessarily think (at least I would hope not) that it has been anyone's intention to be hateful or malicious but rather only guilty of assuming too much.
Articles, research and such are a good starting place but never take anything as the total gospel no matter how official it looks or how articulate the author.
I don't mind answering questions about my family. I'd be happy to share what I can. Just know that I won't banter back and forth about what I already know and I won't be goaded by instigators. I've had enough of that to last a lifetime.
Blessings and Happy Holidays.
Penny
More Replies:
-
Re: Chavis Family
Jeannie 12/19/06
-
Re: Chavis Family
MaryE Watson 12/19/06