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Black History Month Word of the Day: 2/17

A MOMENT IN BLACK HISTORY

RUNAWAYS

SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF AFRICANS TO BRITISH NORTH AMERICA, ENSLAVED MEN AND WOMEN HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPE BONDAGE BY RUNNING AWAY. IN THE 17TH CENTURY BLACK AND WHITE INDENTURED SERVANTS OFTEN TRIED TO ESCAPE TOGETHER. IF CAUGHT THEY WERE OFTEN SENTENCED TO LIFETIME SERVITUDE AND TRIED FOR CONSPIRACY.

MANY ESCAPED SLAVES BONDED WITH INDIAN SURVIVORS OF LOCAL WARS FROM THE CREEK AND CHEROKEE NATIONS. KNOWN AS THE SEMINOLE INDIANS, THEY CREATED A NEW ETHNIC GROUP, THE BLACK SEMINOLES AND NUMBERED OVER 100,000 BEFORE 1750. THEY WERE FIERCELY INDEPENDENT AND EXCELLENT SCOUTS AND TRADERS.

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