Soulaan Delineation to Recognize Pride, Not Division
In recent years, the delineation between native Black Americans—specifically those descended from chattel slavery in the United States—and immigrant Black groups has emerged as a powerful movement. This effort is not one of division, but rather a response to the need for cultural preservation, recognition, and political progress. Native Black Americans, also referred to as Foundational Black Americans (FBA), Freedmen, or Soulaan / Soulan, are seeking to highlight the uniqueness of their lineage, tribe, and the distinct challenges they have faced in their historical and present-day fight for justice in the United States.
Historical Roots: The Foundation of Black America
The ethnogenetic roots of native Black Americans stretch back to the early days of colonial settlement, long before the often-cited date of 1619. One of the first documented instances of enslaved people arriving on what would become American soil occurred in 1526 when Spanish colonizer Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón brought enslaved Black people to the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. America received the least amount of enslaved people from Africa and yet is only behind Brazil as the most populous. These descendants of the enslaved individuals led a successful revolt, escaping the grip of their Spanish captors and integrating into and sometimes back into native societies. This moment marked the beginning of a legacy of resistance, perseverance, and survival that has defined Soulan ever since.
For centuries, souls have played an integral role in building the United States from the ground up. They have weathered the storm of enslavement, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and systemic racism, contributing to the country’s cultural, economic, and political landscape. Yet, while growing diversity within the Black American population, some Soulans are concerned that their distinct history is being diluted by the broader categorization of "Blackness."
Flat Blackness: A Threat to Soulan’s Political Progress
One of the central issues driving the delineation movement is the concept of "flat Blackness." This term describes the reduction of all Black people regardless of their origin, history, or struggles into a single homogenous group. While solidarity among black people across the globe is important and would be a dream, flat Blackness can erase the unique history, culture, and political concerns of native Black Americans.
For many Soulans, the most pressing political issue today is reparations. As descendants of the enslaved in the United States, they are demanding compensation for the centuries of unpaid labor, discrimination, and oppression that built the wealth of the nation. However, many believe that the fight for reparations is being undermined by those who fail to distinguish between native Black Americans and Black immigrants, lumping them together under a generalized “Black” label. This failure to delineate complicates the reparations debate, as the specific debt owed to the descendants of U.S. slavery becomes diluted.
Additionally, many Soulans feel that the political landscape is being distorted by Black immigrants and their descendants who enter American discourse without fully understanding or respecting the unique history and struggles of native Black Americans. These immigrants, though often sharing the experience of anti-Black racism, do not descend from those who were enslaved in the U.S., and thus their experiences and reparative claims differ.
Preserving Culture and Pride
At the heart of this movement is the desire to preserve the rich culture and history of native Black Americans. Terms such as "Soulan," which was coined by T-Roy, Maroc, and Dwayne Coleman, are part of this cultural resurgence. Soulan emphasizes the deep cultural association between Black Americans and the soul, symbolizing the "Soul people." This ethnic designation goes beyond nationality and speaks to a unique ethnogenesis shaped by African, European, and Indigenous native ancestry.
Soulaan, like other terms such as FBA and Freedmen, reflects the pride native Black Americans have in their lineage. It also asserts a cultural identity that cannot be reduced or erased by pan-Black categorizations. To many, embracing these terms is a way of honoring the history of resilience and creativity that native Black Americans have demonstrated for centuries.
The Risks of Not Delineating
The call for delineation is not about creating unnecessary divisions within the Black community; it is about ensuring that the specific struggles and contributions of native Black Americans are not overshadowed or ignored. As Black American Vernacular English (BAVE) evolves and reshapes the American lexicon, native Black Americans continue to lead cultural and political movements, delineating helps to clarify their specific place within the broader fabric of American society.
Moreover, many Soulans argue that failing to delineate could allow other groups to exploit their political efforts. Some point to historical and contemporary examples where white supremacists have co-opted Black spokespersons to undermine issues like reparations. By not clearly defining who is entitled to these reparations, Soulan fears that others who do not share their history of enslavement in the U.S. could claim a stake in the conversation, potentially weakening the overall case for reparations.
Conclusion: Delineation as a Form of Empowerment
Delineation is not an act of division; it is an act of empowerment. By recognizing the unique history, culture, and political needs of native Black Americans, the delineation movement seeks to ensure that Soulans receive the recognition and reparative justice they deserve and can receive not as a race, but as a lineage and status as Freedmen, and yes, I agree on that notion. It is a way to preserve their rich cultural legacy and protect the hard-fought progress that has been made over centuries of struggle.
As the conversation around Black identity in America continues to evolve, the delineation movement calls for respect, clarity, and an end to the erasure of native Black Americans’ unique contributions to the nation. In doing so, they affirm their pride in their lineage and their commitment to continuing the fight for justice, equity, and recognition.