Black and Red

Chief George

The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities-supported documentary project, “Black and Red: the Dilemma of African American-Indigenous Identity in Massachusetts,” premiered at Nichols College in Dudley, MA on Tuesday, October 15. The educational event hosted high school and college students and include a showing of the film, a performance by the traditional drumming group, Eastern Medicine Singers, an exhibit by Pocasset artist Cynthia Meeks, and a panel discussion.

The discussion panel

The documentary, with matching support from the Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust (PPLT), is part of the Expand Massachusetts Stories Initiative of the Massachusetts Foundation, and one of forty-two cultural projects chosen for 2024. The film includes a series of compelling interviews by tribal members about their perspectives as multiracial individuals in Massachusetts and their experiences being misidentified in their own communities. History tells us that a special Indian Census in Massachusetts included mixed blood families for the first time in 1910, and that the census taker made the calculation himself from the possible Indian, White and Negro categories.

Audience members

With an effort spearheaded by Professor Bryant Richards, Nichols College has provided funding to host the premiere. For more information, please email Chris Richards, Director of Development and Programming Director at the Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust.

The Eastern Medicine Singers