The black indian- Ghost Dance

[CourtneysGIRL2]

Hi, I was wondering if you could suggest really good books about Native Culture. I am an African American woman in desperate search for the truth about my culture and history. I believe my great grand mother was SU..and I am not sure if that is the overall name of the tribe or if that is the name of the section of the tribe-- when I say tribe know that it is in the most respectful way possible. Unfortunately, my ignorance only knows this way.

[bezzly]

BLACK PEOPLE R THE FIRST AND ONLY NATIVE PEOPLE OF EVERY CONTINENT. WHATEVER U STRAIGHT HAIRED PEOPLE KNEW U LEARNED FROM US! THE PROPER WAY TO DO THE GHOST DANCE IS ONLY IMPARTED THROUGH SPIRIT TO US! NOT YOU INTEGRATIONALISTS!

[TPhiP]

I asked GOD about ancient history I had a dream that explained ancient history of black people and chinese, I found out it happened 4000 years ago i'm going through many experiences that was the day before yesterday

[MrRealNATIVE]

That video iz jus sick and stupid

[MrRealNATIVE]

Mam I am so glad you made this video, that fake ghost dance was very sad I cant belive someone would make such a mockory of our Ghost dance

[jinebro]

I couldn't have said it better. Its a battle for sure against those "WahNahBees." They show right-out what they think of our culture and spiritual beliefs: something to mock, to fantasize, to receive appraisal, and to garner monies from the uneducated. If this dude cared about his heritage he wouldn't be doing what he's doing. This vid proves to me that he's out to get what he wants which is not in the interest of the people he is supposedly portraying. A vulture he is and a vulture he shall be.

[enshirasmama]

Hey my friend in Traverse City said that America was Oonsleey, I asked what the word meant she just giggled.

[1racehumanrace]

awesome rant! :) five stars!

[samsnames]

It is good 2 c blacks who r part indian learning about their native american heritage. It is sad that the chippewa's of oklahoma (the cherokee of oklahoma r really chippewa's) refusing black indians. Before the whites conquered this land the chippewa's of the south allowed large numbers of escaped black slaves asylum in their land. The blacks lived in their own villages across the south. They were not slaves as the whites claim. Click on samsnames 2 learn more.

[cedaRrose]

I could not beleive that this African American man did.....it is gross and offensive. Pure ignorance.

[makezmuzic]

It is very sad.

[Darshuiami]

i really think u should takedown ur videos they r just negative n very disrespectfull 2 the guys that did the gost dance video, for u 2 beleive that they r sincere n still disrespect them like how u do its not good. nothing wrong with making mistakes once u remain sincere this is the most valuable quality any 1can have so 4 u to disrespect those guys so severely is not right. i've watched there responces and they remain respectfull 2 u. i'm sure there behaviour made the ancesters proud.

[makezmuzic]

Recording the Ghost Dance and putting it on You Tube is NOT making the Elders proud. I would say the same thing if they were full blood Natives. I would say the same thing if they were White. If you are going to call it a "Ghost DAnce", don't record it. Do you know what the Ghost Dance is? What it's about? What happened to the People for dancing it.

[blokcom]

Darshuiami,

You must understand how ridiculous you sound.

[Darshuiami]

blokcom: the person who i sent the message to didn't think it was ridiculos... maybe u should read their responce.

[ladiesmanxxxxxxx]

makezmusic natives have a great culture .. pyramids bigger than ancient egypts n a calender longer than egypts too. but natives were proably not here first .. geneticist have proved that a 13,000 year old school refutes the false premise that natives r the first americans or indigenous 2 america.

[jinebro]

Must have been a racist school.

[jinebro]

Or lets try your genetics and 13,000 year old school against 50,000 year old artifacts found in California. But than again, 13,000 years sounds awful close to Darwin's theory (which it still, a THEORY). Or 13,000 years in Darwin years? You should know, Darwin is the one who started the thousand-of-years scheme which is what modern science implements on their best-guess time line with the help of carbon dating which is inaccurate.

[dontpay2pray]

I hope the department of Fish and Wildlife locates him when he comes back to the states and makes sure he's licences to possess any protected feathers he may have. I hope he can account for where he got those bustles too. I flagged the video again for shocking and digusting content because I felt shock and disgust when I viewed it. All the REAL NDNZ and our true friends need to do the same.

[sadietieri]

What these people are doing may be done out of extreme ignorance but that doesn't excuse being deliberately offensive to the Lakota people who have never done anything to them. The Black Indian Ghost Dance should be removed from YouTube. Can we send emails or faxes somewhere to make Youtube listen to people of conscience?

Thank you for speaking out!

I will favorite your video and share it with others.

[dontpay2pray]

Thank you for having the courage to speak out. Unfortunately, the people who engage in this sort of mockery are usually too stubborn and arrogant to listen to reason and too lazy and willfully ignorant to read books written by authentic ndn ppl.

I flagged his video and I hope others will do likewise.

[sourgirl76]

I have flagged it 3x and still nothing! Not only are they mocking a Ghost Dance, I find the patting over their mouths very offensive. Hopefully if everyone keeps flagging it they will take it down.

[makezmuzic]

The patting over the mouth makes me cringe.

[makezmuzic]

I believed his Father raised him specifically in what he remembers as the culture of the "Black NDN's" vs the culture of traditional NDN's that have Black parents or grandparents.

It still just amazes me that this group would use the words "Ghost Dance" & the patting over their mouth. I can't believe that non racially NDN Blacks living in the NDN community would make thises choices.

I also wonder if you would use the word "lazy" if they were White?"

[presaceo]

lol my people my people....when will we ever learn. It is the same as with religion, you have this one not liking that one because his denomination is baptist and another is muslim and yet all posess the same good values. Here we see a blk man trying to send a message the best way he can and he gets attacked. To me I saw the video as a merging of the oppressed but thats my opinion. We must begin to find the good in a mans actions or intentions, if not we miss the bigger picture. Think people

[dontpay2pray]

The people who are thinkng, know that this black man knows nothing about the culture he is mimicking and he is very, very offensive. This black man is not trying to do anything in a good way. He's out for profit and glory. He acts out of ignorance and pure ego. He does not have indigenous values. He is assimilated.

[makezmuzic]

I checked out he and his Father's web site. I don't think there is any money attached to what he is doing. He is really sincere. AS far as "Indigenous values", many NDN's don't have those either. THey are something that is learned. ANd for what ever reasons , not all NDNs have access to it. Is there any thing we can teach him?

[NeCacaluXuxultic]

yes....DNA :P which i have...on my videos...proving them wrong...

[makezmuzic]

You have an excellent point. For me personally, it's the use of the word "Ghoast Dance" & video taping it.

His message of rebirth has been lost in his not naming the ceremony "rebirth". Thanks for your .positive input.

[phuckthenewage]

Black fake Indians are just like white fake indians - it's all about not admitting they're white and that their ancestors participated in genocide. These guys are just using Lakota culture to run a big scam - it's all bout da Benjaminz - they have no RESPECT for anything or anyone

[Iheartmyanger]

This black indians are sad and lost people, but that does not excuse their sacreligious farce. If they really were trying to learn about a heritage they respect, they would come to Choctaw and Cherokee communities and listen to the elders there. It is obvious that this man is only interested in making money from fools who only know of NDNS from Hollywood movies. If these people were really Lakota, they would listen to all the real Lakota telling to stop this disgrace!

[makezmuzic]

Going to the Elders may not have been possible during his Father's generation. There is a lot of internalised racism in the NDN community. But that is changing little by little and many of this generation of Elders are not aas shamed of thier connection, inter mixing with the Black community back in the day.

[makezmuzic]

Not all Black NDN's are either sad or lost people. We are who we are. But it's not OK for ANYONE Black, or White, or NDN to exploit this powerful ceremony.

I believe this young man has grown up following his father's teachings. His Dad is an activist. WHile many Black NDN's living on or near the NDN land back in the day adopted NDN ways, this group HAS forgotten the importance of going to the source. As you say, need to go to the Elders.

[iktomereturns]

We support your efforts to get that sacriledge removed from YouTube. We're encouraging ndns and supporters to flag the vid, and report it as illegal activity - the DNR needs to know that these fools have those feathers!

[acoma415]

I seen the video as well and I think your 100% right about it.These people who made this videos are nothing more than a few fools running around danceing with buzzard feathers.What makes it really shame full is there calling it a ghost dance plus its border line child abuse that kid dosent even look like the mother..

[sourgirl76]

I tryed to comment as well, but of course that is pending approval lol!

I hope the feathers they are using are not from a protected species!!!

[samuraidad]

More power to ya! My hope is the video will be removed.

[chocolateraqs]

I took it the same way that you did. As a Red/Black woman I was mortified. I am still confused as to what that video was supposed to be about.... and I sat through it like twice just to make sure that it wasn't a joke or something. It was just as bad the second time through. Seriously. That was just WRONG on so many levels.

[nokgensoc]

wow, that looked so unauthentic, but I suppose you see this sort of thing going on all the time...I see it every time I watch tv, or hear it when I listen to the radio.

[makezmuzic]

Rites of passeges, rituals are so very important. I feel this groups need and RIGHT to spiritual practices. We must be sure though, to come correct in doing ceremonies.

You are so right, everyday we see madison Ave & the media make money off everyones culture.

[apachesbutterfly]

MM, thank you for speaking up, I took that video the same way you did. It makes my head spin. I noticed in his video response to you, he avoided answering your questions, by calling you a racist. That's not too surprising is it?

[makezmuzic]

It's not surprising. He is operating from a place of protecting the teachings of his Father. It sounds like his Father has attempted to bring back rites of passages, rituals, some kind of traditional ways to their community.

He can't answer, he might not have taken it as a question, just an attack. Sad. Our community needs rites of passage - they just need to be appropriate.

[Cryptykk]

...I don't even know where to begin...you say "anothers culture" like black Indians aren't Indians too. They wouldn't be called black INDIANS if they didn't have Indian ancestors. I understand that some things are not done like this and it is embarrassing but why don't you try to teach them instead of criticizing them? God, you just seem like you are sitting on your high horse looking down on them. That is what is disgusting here.

[makezmuzic]

Crypt, I had a different response to you until I saw your channel & realised you are a NDN-phile. You have a lot of NDN vids on your channel but haven't learned a thing.

You are good at taking from other cultures, what do you give back?

[joshgoldenc]

hey now. i am of the Omaha nation of nebraska/iowa but i am born and raised in minneapolis/st.paul. i have grown up in areas of mexican americans, blacks, whites, asians etc. i'm pretty sure there many blacks with our blood and many of we natives with black blood. i think some of the people question the blacks entertaining the thought of claiming our blood. some feel this is from monetary fulfillment of perhaps starting their own casinos or college monies. but it seems when it comes down to it..

[joshgoldenc]

when blacks have beef with "the man" over something or they all agree on something which pertains to racism they tend to say "man we black, we have it alot harder". it also seems when convienant the talk of native blood comes into the conversation. now i am not racist, i have dated black women, whomever, but from my observations it may seem that when it comes down to it, blacks will be and claim black, which isnt a bad thing but thats why there will never be unity "per se" between............

[joshgoldenc]

native americans and "black indians". how? when natives have fought so hard to keep their language and ceremonies alive while black indians have leaned toward the white mans christian faith along with the other former slaves. i understand that people will believe in what they do, and they will also say what they believe in is the right way. i am not those people, i say "hey w/e works for you and keeps u sane" lol. i commend the black indians tho, i hope for the natives who speak spanish.....

[joshgoldenc]

u know the mexicans, puerto ricans, central and south american "mestizo's", who look more native than any spaniard blood, to come back to their native roots. IMHO only then will we as native peoples become more powerful as well as educated and will count alot more in society. the white man has done a good job of keeping the native american, black indian, "latino" seperated by language and their religions. that is all i have to type, thank you for reading. we'blah'hah (thank you all my relations)

[makezmuzic]

There it is! Now you are talking the truth. All of us must go back to honoring our Ancestors and traditions. We are all stronger with our Ancestors beside us.

[makezmuzic]

Black NDNs were taken off the res. We were denied both languages. Josh, a lot og colonized people took on christianity. Full blooderd and White NDN's were allowed to retain much of traditions. Once stolen off the rez Black NDNs lost contact with our culture. The internalized racism in the Black community does not allow anyone to claim any other culture, so we lost our culture there too.

[makezmuzic]

Just as you have a right to claim your tribe, for what ever reason you choose (money, to impress people, or claimiing your ANcestors) so do we. And for as many reasons as other blends of NDNs do.

[makezmuzic]

I'm not saying YOU are a racist, just that people get with women of color for many different reasons.

[makezmuzic]

As long as there is racism in the NDN community, less Black NDNs will claim. We both need to let go of our internalized racism. THAT is what keeps us form unifying.

[QuallaRez]

I have to voice my opinion on the "Black Indian Ghost dance". Taking from American Indian culture and being so ignorant to the facts!. We Indian People do not even do spiritual things online let alone the "Ghost Dance". This is what Hollywood has done to our Culture and it is sickening. I am agianst "New AGE Spiritual Misappropriation" and this to me is a pure example of what I as an American Indian woman from two nations is against!

[makezmuzic]

THANK YOU!

"new age" = westernized people "discovering" what Indigenous People have LIVED for centuries.

There needs to be a "Culture tax". Everyone using "New Age" material should pay a "use" tax to the culture it got it from.

Thanks for your comment.

[QuiMichaelRa]

We are all IS-RA-EL-ites- from the so-called negro to the so-called hispanic to the so-called N. A. indian, please wake up my people, cuz i love you all! hotep hotep shalom

[makezmuzic]

Qui, it is good to hear you speak of your love of our people. Even though I do not agree with the group that made the video showing footage of their sacred dance, I still defend & respect their right to name themselves.

You have every right to name yourself an Israelite, but please respect my right to name myself according to my racial lineage.

Shalom.

[Spiritree41]

On behalf of us kinky head native americans i do apologize. My grandmother and mother are black cherokee here in bullock county and we do apologize for the mishap :)

[makezmuzic]

YaAtEy, Absolutely! We come in all shades & hair textures - in the same family. Peace.

[Spiritree41]

Peace :)

[Allnatural7]

You believe black people with kinky hair couldn't possibly have NA ancesters? You sound racist.You can't judge a book by its cover without reading it. I guess he told you in his third video.

[makezmuzic]

Yes, I believe Black people with kinky hair can be of NDN ancestory. His vid is not about having NDN ancestory, his vid is a rip off of a culture he obviously knows nothing about. Otherwise he wouldn't call it "Ghost Dance. 

I have no idea what his 3rd vid says. I'm sure he is very vested in 'culture vulturing' NDN ceramonies. He HAS TO say what he says. He is not mature enough to challange his Father's teachings. That is the nature of cults.

[swadewade73]

i agree with you makezmuzic....this video disrepects the Ghost Dance and tradition, this guy should call this video something else.....a revised version or something......

[makezmuzic]

Thank you Swade. Rituals and rites of passages ARE important. If this group had named the dance anything but Ghost dance it would have been different. It looks like a ritual of "rebirth", which is wonderful, powerful & cleansing, but not a Ghost dance.

[makezmuzic]

My problem with this vid is people (Black or White)taking little bits and pieces of NDN culture that they know nothing about and claiming them.

Find out what the ceremony is about before you make a video of it. The ghoast dance is NOT suppose to be made public. PERIOD!!!

[hwiseman]

And you know what else, he didn't film this at Rachel's Tomb in Israel. He would have been met by testy Israeli soldiers busting a cap in his silly ass, dancing outside that Tomb with all that Palestinians have tried to do to destroy Israeli archaeology! Bogus!!!

[makezmuzic]

This vid is sad in so many ways. We are what we are. Created as we are. We don't have to make things up to prove who we. There is nothing wrong with wanting to acknowledge ones ancestors.

It's a sad issue all around. Black NDN's have to deal with internalized racism & white racism from 3 cultures.

We are often denied our citizenship to the sovereign nations of our ancestors. Go on any rez and you will see white Indians reaping the bennies of 1/16th NDN blood & white privilege.

[n0gar]

Nothing is difficult, but MOST blacks who claim to be "half" antive or have some in them look all African or mixed with white - not native. I have family memebers who claim native, but they have green eyes and auburn hair. In college, we went around the room explining our heritage. All blacks but me said Jamaican, Irish, Indian and they were all DARK. I, light-skinned (not half white) told the true and said that I do not know since we were slaves. You look like you might be, i need see fam.

[makezmuzic]

I have no problem with folks respecting their ancestory. Depending on where in the country your people came from, there is a good chance you have some NDN blood in you.

My problem with this vid is people (Black or White)taking little bits and pieces of NDN culture that they know nothing about and claiming them.

Find out what the ceremony is about before you make a video of it. The ghoast dance is NOT suppose to be made public. PERIOD!!!

[makezmuzic]

I know it can be difficult to walk in both the Black and NDN community. There is a LOT of racism in the NDN community. And a lot of internalized racism in the Black community when it comes to bi-racial people.

Many of us are looking for a connection to the earth. Christianity has left many parched. All we have to do is find the ways of our ancestors, from the continents of our blood. Not from the bible, but from our blood geniology.

[drlecterisin]

yes and in the black community there is a problem with people calling women- bitches and calling bitches women, and NOW a problem now with black male feminists who were raised by bitter black females and an even bigger problem with OUTSIDERS BEING UNJUST WITNESSES AMONG THEM

[makezmuzic]

Your comment really has nothing to do with this video. You got major issues with Black people.

[drlecterisin]

You were on a site just a day or two ago supporting an ignorant nigger who is pimping the females that subscribe to him and they, as a group attack black thinkers and reformers how dare you do that and then feel that I have MAJOR ISSUES WITH BLACK PEOPLE

[makezmuzic]

Dr, you have to be much clearer than that. I have no idea who you are, what your are talking about, if you are even Black. You aren't making sense.

Be specific. Whats up?

[makezmuzic]

AND< what does it have to do with this video?

[makezmuzic]

Hummmm, still havent heard from you. And your use of the word "N" tells me you are a racist.  It doesn't surprise me that you have a blank account.

[LwaziOfItaly]

Here is another great one to watch: "black indians"

One must realize that there were Black Natives also.

[LwaziOfItaly]

Here is the title of the response. Please take a look because he backs all his info up. "Re: The black indian- Ghost Dance pt. 2"

[shabanga69]

He backs up his info with depictions of non-Africans (brown skinned central Mexican depiction of warriors in murals in Cacaxtla, MX), it is sad, he claims they are depictions of "Black Indians", akin to Washitaw claims, who believe in "ancient Mu-Atlantis". Those depictions in murals are Original Inhabitant (Aboriginal) Mexicans, indicated by the brown pigment (natives are not white).Hecan't defend the fact Israel hasNOTHING to do with native religion or the ghost dance.He claims Israel is home.

[LwaziOfItaly]

I guess I must agree...

[LwaziOfItaly]

Yes, these dances were done way before America. All you have to do is take a look at Zulu tribal dance and you see they dress, dance the exact same way. Only difference is we know the Africans were around long before... I feel it was not right to insult the mans culture like that. I guess as an elder you somewhat have that right. Please take a look at his response to the ghost dance

[Souljoro]

The people who made that video are Israelites.. He says his people were doing that dance in Israel long before it was done in America so I dont think he was stealing your culture.

[makezmuzic]

Then why do they call themselves "Indians"? Have "Indian" music playing, and are dressed in regalia that represents North American.

It sounds like his Father is committed to the bettering of African Americans in this country. Is a spiritual man and has a much respect for the supernatural earth. More African Americans should follow his modeling. It has nothing to do with North America & American Indians. Indian is a made up word. It's a white word.

[makezmuzic]

If they are Israelites, why don't they call themselves Israelies? Why claim North America? Do they think there is something wrong with being from the Middle East? Or Africa?

[LwaziOfItaly]

I agree with you...

[hwiseman]

Hmm, if he were Israelite and re-enacting an actual ceremony taken from ancient Israel, the prayers would have been in Hebrew. The men would have worn tzitzit and not feathers. Ridiculous. Neither Indian nor israelite...poor hollywood imitation.

[makezmuzic]

Thank you. If they are of NDN decent, there is nothing wrong with claiming that blood. If you are of Ethiopian Jewish decent, there is nothing wrong with claiming that blood.

But to take on bites and pieces of others cultures and claim it is sad. It also destracts from any positive actions they are doing. Cleansing rituals can be very healing. It also sounds like the leader of this group has worked as an advocate in the Black community.

[LwaziOfItaly]

There are many Native Indians who use different music (like Sacred Spirit) for their videos. Before you attack this dance, you must really learn about their culture. Who said they copied. There is not just one type of Indian in the world. I am familiar with the Lakota, I am 1/4 Cheyenne and you were my peoples allies. The Goddess gave your tribe the peace pipe and gave us the bow and arrow. I know about your people, so please take some time to learn about my African Indian people.

[makezmuzic]

I know about African Indian people, I come from them. But it has nothing to with Israel.

Nothing to do with the bible. It's about the blood running in ones veins.

Their using the bible, a book that is only 200 years and poorly translated to take the name from a people that have been here for 1000's of years sounds very familiar.

Absolutely NO NDN tribes, Israelies, Africans use other's music for rituals.

[makezmuzic]

"There is not just one type of Indian in the world."

ahhh, "Indian" is a made up word. It's only 400 years old. A word, on this continent, that whites decided to call the Native peoples here. My Brother, where in Israel or Africa is there evidence of the Plains NDN Fancy Dance head regailia the Brother is wearing? I've never seen a middle Easterner wear anything like that before.

What do you define NDN as being?

[LwaziOfItaly]

This is true, a man by the name of Ghost Wolf said Natives hated being called Indian. Columbus called them that because he thought he was in India. You can look at a response video to yours where the man broke down all kinds of proof of this dance and video. I have lots of Native friends and they all seem to talk bad about each other's tribal dances, from corn to grass. Some say other dancers look like they have ants in their pants. But there is a great response video to that ghost dance.

[KingLouisXXI]

So many of our people don't ven know they're history.America has brainwashed this nation.Our Iroquois brothers have become white,and others refuse to believe in their african ancestry.The reasoning for the dissapearance of the Mayan's.

[makezmuzic]

Colonializm has deep roots. Anytime you see people of color grasping for whiteness, it's the ghost of colonializm. So sad.

Peace.

[hwiseman]

So true. We as Indians with African heritage among others have a lot to deal with. I don't feel superior. If anything, I feel more struggle. And another thing about that group that insults Judaism with their syncretistic ideals, they are selling cd's of their so-called family history. If I want to buy a family history, it betta be mine. Even to say he is Ethiopian,,haha! My children's father is Ethiopian. This guy is so fake.

[hwiseman]

He has contacted me offline so I googled him and he's on Wilkepedia, Howshua Amariel. He says he's aligned with a prominent Conversative Chicagoan Rabbi, Funye Conyers. Nope, I don't believe it. this was also filmed in Israel. The dude was mixing up 3 religions.  Just awful junk. I think he got his ideas from a poor western. And he doesn't even get why it's offensive. Keeps talking about the Cherokee Freedmen. I doubt even he's a Freedman lol.

[makezmuzic]

What is so sad is that we are of African decent come from a spiritual, creative, ethical, intellegent, inventive peoples.

Why does this group feel it needs to co-opt another peoples race & customs. It's one thing if your ancestors were of these races & cultures and you are learning about embracing the ways of your people.

But this groups acts as taking on another's race will make them more that what they are. Like being of African decent is "less than" being of NDN decent.

[unit023]

yes, thank you. i don't know what the hell that was, but it was pitiful like you said. My grandmother would take me to the Native American festivals in Fairmount park and I specifically remember some occasions where photography was discouraged. I was so confused by that other video. It would be the same as a Skull and Bones type fraternity filming thier secret rituals, just makes no sense.

[makezmuzic]

I don't understand how another person of Color could be so disrespectful as this. True, I too can't tell if it's a ritual or an imitation of a ritual. Or why they use the title "Ghost Dance"? It made me very sad.

Peace

[hwiseman]

Yes,you are right. But then, nobody should rip off another's culture at all. Just for the record, I thought you were Habeasha. I have Habesha family. Are you Black Indian then? Thank you. PLease keep on responding to ignorant videos.

[makezmuzic]

Yes,Thank you

[makezmuzic]

Hi, thanks for taking the time to watch my vid. I just now got a new keyboard so I can write again. LOL Yes, I am African/ Nubian and Dine` (Navajo).

I can understand the excitement in learning new information about ones roots. I hope people will use it to educate themselves and then become aware of the common issues we all have. And how many hands can make the fight for justice easier. Peace.

[malcolmlhj14]

nice video 5 stars

[makezmuzic]

Thank you

[malcolmlhj14]

your welcome