I was driving toward Oklahoma City in my truck a ford ranger. it would have sounded better if it had been a mustang in keeping with the native motif. While listening to the radio this thought came to me about the first Americans. Who are they and when did they come into existence? Where did they come from? Well most point to the indigenous people i.e. Indians, natives and call them -us the native Americans.
Naw, that’s not right either. After all there was no America but my ancestors were here already. Hmm so what do we call ourselves again comes the question? Did we crossover the Bering land bridge during the ice age? In using this some say we are, the first immigrants.
Hmmm?
Well ok, then let us take a different look at history and of the westward movement of the Americans. Now of course the Indian happened to be in the way of this expansion. Some like the Five Civilized tribes took on the mores of the people and even excelled in it. They owned big plantations and of course slaves.
Yes, Virginia slaves.
The natural excuse was we had the best land and others wanted it soo came the first land grab of parts of Georgia and North Carolina. They say shiny stuff was found on the lands. With a stroke of the pen and that Jackson guy a forced exodus was place upon the tribes.
The one known as the “Trail where they cried” or the trail of tears.
Indian territory was ours for as long as the grass grows and rivers flow. That means as long as it’s unusable to the “yongags.” i.e. white man.
It was while ruminating on this I remembered the last (land grab) also known as The Land Rush! Then of course some crossed the border before they were supposed too and were called sooners!
How about that Oklahoma! Your state and the OU football team are nicked named after crooks and the first illegal immigrants!
Well maybe the third illegal ones.
I would love to live in my ancestral homelands but I guess it is here that I’ll stay. That is until my land is looked upon by others as being desirable and forced me off once more.
Where would I go California maybe?
naw, I’ll probably wind up in subsidized housing!