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
- 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
- Political rights were denied of them until the mid-20th century.
Both groups were used as cheap labour/slaves for the whites
- Both also belong to the poorest, less-educated, populations in
America. See about economic rights and the demand for reparations at
- 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
Fey, Robert, "Early Encounters" Africana.com
(Author Unknown), "Reparations and Treaty Rights for African-Americans
and Native Americans", Berkley University
Bakari Akil II, May 17, 2002, "Seminoles, Native Americans and African
Bloodlines" Global Black News
"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)
Morgan Monceaux (Illustrator), Ruth Katcher My Heroes, My People:
African, Americans, and Native Americans in the West
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