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In parts of Louisiana and Texas, the term “Redbone” has long been used to describe communities of mixed-race people descended from Native American, African American, and European ancestors. These Redbone communities emerged in the early 19th century, forming a unique cultural identity that defied rigid racial categories and traditional societal norms in the American South. Isolated by geography and their mixed ancestry, the Redbones built a life on the margins, creating their own customs, values, and networks in a society that often viewed them with suspicion. Their story sheds light on the complexities of race in America, as well as the rich history of cultural blending that characterizes the American South.
The origins of Redbone communities trace back to the early 1800s, when settlers of Native American, African American, and European descent began to migrate to the swamps, piney woods, and riverlands of Louisiana and Texas. These areas provided natural isolation, which allowed mixed-race families to live relatively undisturbed by outside influences. Many were the descendants of Native American tribes such as the Choctaw and Creek, who had intermarried with African Americans and Europeans, including French, Spanish, and British settlers, in earlier centuries. Seeking freedom from racial hierarchies and social pressures, these families established communities in regions where the forests, rivers, and swamps acted as natural barriers against outside interference.