The Age Old Question
Are Creoles Black ??
.The First response is to reply by saying that Creole is Not a Race but rather a Culture.
..This Culture was Brought about By the coming together of the French, Spanish, Native Americans and African People who as a Whole, through their contributions, Created this Culture..As I might add this Culture predates America..
In Fact Louisiana Creoles were of French origin and were Citizens of France well before Louisiana became a part of the United States....What makes it so much more difficult is that the Louisiana Creoles were Black, White and of Mixed Race.
The European Creoles who were of the dominate Culture were responsible for the Creole Customs,Language and basic life style..The African Influence included the Musical, Culinary and development of the French Louisiana Culture and the mixing of the native American and Spanish Culture during the Spanish Period, all of which contributed to the development of this Unique Creole Culture..
.Now that the issue has been limited to the Creole of Color We then proceed to answer the remaining question is
ARE THE CREOLES OF COLOR ...BLACK ..??
During the Antebellum and post Civil War Era there developed in the South a theory called the "ONE DROP RULE" meaning that anyone who possessed a mere drop of Black blood was considered Black by Race ...because of this ruling the Mulatto, (Multi-Racial ) who prior to this Rule enjoyed a separated Class or Racial classification in the middle, between Black and White, was now defined as Black...
This theory was developed out of fear by the Southern Whites of Racial mixing and also out of revenge against the Southern Mulattos who supported the Northern Whites during the Civil War...The term was expanded to include categories depending upon the amount of White blood in which people possessed .This theory in reality has no real scientific value..
To further complicate the matter We must first Define the Word Black in this context..
Legally Speaking
1)...By Definition: " Black" is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum;
2)...Historically, any person with any sub-Saharan African ancestry, even if they were mostly white, were designated and classified as "black", according to the "one drop theory," by which any Black African ancestry made the person "black" in legal sense.
3)...Today, the US census in law and practice does not declare any person to belong in any race or ethnicity without the prior consent of that person.
As You can see there is no legitimate nor clear cut definition of just what constitutes being Black...If You define Black as someone with African Ancestory,then most definately they are Black... If that person is of mixed Race parentage that Would not only make him Black but also White...Since according to Race by definition it really does not work...The one drop theory has made anyone of African ancestory Black
We can rightrfully say Black denotes the Color of
One's skin while the word African denotes Ancestory...So therefore A Person of Color is someone of African Descent and not Black in Color......
.People of Mixed Race parentage are in a Larger sense People of African Ancestory and not Black...You must remember that Africa is a Continent where all Races of Mankind live...There are Black Africans, Berbers, Muslims, Arabs ,Mixed Race Africans, Ethiopians and Caucasians of all Colors just to name a few.. The African Continent is not Just an all Black World, so, why should all people of African Descent all be called Black..For solidarity Purposes it's a Great Idea but for purposes of Self identification, it's wrong...The Proper Word in all sense should be a ....
" Person of African Ancestory "
In Summary
Creole is not a Racial Category so, therefore, Race is not a determining factor as to what Defines a Creole .
A Creole is one that shares the same Cultural values and Customs that derived from the Louisiana Frenchcreole Culture ..There are Black, ,Mixed Race and European White Creoles who all share the same cultural characteristics ..
.There were French Creoles of Color and there were Creole bound by Slavery just as there were Blacks..
What really separates Creoles From African/Americans is the fact that Creoles are Latin in Culture and possessed ideals which come from the Latin French People. The Creole of Color possessed rights and a way of Life much more different and tolerant under French rule...
Louisiana was a seperate Nation prior to the Louisiana Purchase and all it's inhabitants were subjects of France.....
Augustine/Comeaux