What are the similarities and differences between African-Americans
and Native american indians?

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Clarification of Question by grin-ga on 14 Nov 2002 05:34 PST

I am mainly interested in the similarities & differences in their
culture, history, and political.  When referring to Native americans,
I am speaking of the Meskwaki tribe.  However, if there is no
information on Meskwaki tribe, please speak in terms of general Native
American population.

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Request for Question Clarification by politicalguru-ga on 14 Nov 2002 07:39 PST

Would several main common features and referrence to further sources
satisfy you? What are you expecting to in answer?

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Clarification of Question by grin-ga on 14 Nov 2002 15:55 PST

Several main common features would satisfy me as well as refferences
to further sources.  Thank You

Dear Grin, 

When speaking of "Native Americans" we should remember that we're
talking about several very different groups, with different
traditions, political systems, food, etc. When speaking of African
Americans, we can also see that the "African American" is not
homogenic group. It consists of many different people, some are
descendants of former slaves brought to America, while some came to
America in the last few years.

However, there are several common features to these two groups, and
the first and foremost of them, is the treatment of the European-
Americans (or Whites), of these groups, and the attitudes towards
them.

- Their culture was considered a sub-culture, a culture, which is
inferior to the "White" culture.

- Their religion was also considered inferior, and they were
considered as they should be christianised.

- Their political culture, and their ability to manage or to lead, was
underestimated.

- Political rights were denied of them until the mid-20th century.
Both groups were used as cheap labour/slaves for the whites
(http://www.africana.com/Articles/tt_424.htm)

- Both also belong to the poorest, less-educated, populations in
America. See about economic rights and the demand for reparations at
http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~starkey/reparation.html

- Both were deemed to live in separate neighbourhoods, use separate
school system, until college ("Traditional African American Colleges"
and "Indian Colleges").

- And some say (like this article:
http://www.globalblacknews.com/Seminole2.html) that they share "common
blood" (or, that many African slaves and Native Americans had
children).


Referrences: 
===========
Fey, Robert, "Early Encounters" Africana.com
http://www.africana.com/Articles/tt_424.htm

(Author Unknown), "Reparations and Treaty Rights for African-Americans
and Native Americans", Berkley University
http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~starkey/reparation.html

Bakari Akil II, May 17, 2002, "Seminoles, Native Americans and African
Bloodlines" Global Black News
http://www.globalblacknews.com/Seminole2.html

"We are all Americans", Native Americans in the Civil War, City of
Alexandria, VA, http://oha.ci.alexandria.va.us/fortward/special-sections/americans/

James Brooks (Editor) Confounding the Color Line: The Indian-Black
Experience in North America (a new book)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0803261942/ltc-political/002-2607353-8696007

Morgan Monceaux (Illustrator), Ruth Katcher My Heroes, My People:
African, Americans, and Native Americans in the West
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0374307709/ltc-political/002-2607353-8696007

Bruce Edward Twyman The Black Seminole Legacy and North American
Politics, 1693-1845 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0882582046/ltc-political/002-2607353-8696007

I hope that answered your question. What I did to search for an
answer, was to seach for "common" features among "african americans"
and "native americans". If you need any clarifications, please let me
know.

Good answer with links to further research.

In what specific areas would like these comparisons to be made? For
example, physical appearance, culture, history, statistical,
political, etc. As you can see, one could go on endlessly about the
similarities and differences of any two races of people. There are
also many other issues to consider. There are hundreds of different
tribes of Native Americans. Which tribe are you referring to? How many
of these similarities and differences do you expect the comparison to
address proportionate to the bid you have placed on the question?