paper genocide in Va

The Racial Integrity Act of 1924

The Racial Integrity Act of 1924 was the culmination of 100s of years of efforts by colonizers to divide and dismantle the Indigenous tribes of Virginia.  On its face, it was meant to qualify citizens of the Commonwealth as White or Black but it’s underlying purpose was to force tribal citizens to assimilate into white culture to avoid the bonds of racism or leave the state and their people.

Virginia tribes were not new to this kind of subversive oppression.  They had been adapting and surviving since England established the Jamestown Settlement.  Prior to colonization, Virginia had approximately up to 40 different  tribes living and hunting on its land.  The largest tribal nation, the Powhatan Confederacy, had tribes throughout Tsenacommacah or what is known today as the eastern half of Virginia, Maryland and northern parts of North Carolina.  Today, only 11 Virginia tribes are recognized by state and/or federal governments.  The tribes that survived are the Cheroenhaka Nottoway, Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Mattaponi, Monacan, Nansemond, Nottoway, Pamunkey, Patawomeck, Rappahannock, and Upper Mattaponi. The only tribe that has survived and been formally recognized in Maryland is the Piscataway after a hard fought and only recently won battle with the state and federal government.

First contact tribes have struggled to maintain connections to their history and culture but we are working…I encourage everyone to learn more about the impacts of colonization on Indigenous people in Virginia.  Check out (https://time.com/6952928/virginia-racial-integrity-act-history/

The Dollop Podcast (history/comedy) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dollop-with-dave-anthony-and-gareth-reynolds/id643055307?i=1000366722708 (NSFW)