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From Florida to Coahuila: The History of the Black Seminoles cover image

From Florida to Coahuila: The History of the Black Seminoles 1996

Highly Recommended

Distributed by LAVA - Latin American Video Archives, 124 Washington Place, New York, NY 10014; 212-243-4804
Produced by Trabuco
Directed by Rafael Rebollar
VHS, color, 50 min.



College - Adult
Latin American Studies

Date Entered: 09/24/2004

Reviewed by Elise Vidal, Thomas Branigan Library, Las Cruces, NM

From Florida to Coahuila examines the history of Black Seminoles or as they are known in Mexico - the Mascogos. This is the second installment in Rafael Rebollar’s The African Diaspora in the Americas Collection.

The story of the Mascogs begins in Florida while it is still under Spanish rule. When the English began to expand down the eastern seaboard of the United States, a conflict of political influence erupted and Spain attempted to stem the English influence in Florida. With this in mind, Spain granted freedom to any slave willing to desert England’s colonies and move to Florida. These original Black slaves established strong ties with the Seminole Indians though intermarriage and tribal adoption. They became known as Black Seminoles. Later, during the Seminole Indian Wars both Black and Indian Seminoles fought ferociously side by side against the American army. Never truly defeated, they formed a truce with the United States government that would allow the escaped Black slaves to be relocated to Indian territory with the Seminoles thus granting them freedom. Black Seminoles did not like being governed by the Creeks and resettled in Brackettville, Texas and Nacimeiento, Coahuila, Mexico.

Their history is an integral part of the Mexican/American border in that they served in Mexican and United States Armies in the 19th century. In the United States they were the highly regarded Seminole Indian Scouts and in Mexico they defended the border against bandits and Indian raids. The cultures of the Black Seminoles in Texas and the Mascogos in Coahuila are rich with African, Indian, Spanish and English influences.

This documentary mixes interviews from both sides of the border; archival photographs and traditional music are used to convey the links and the important roles these people played. The documentary is a tool to help record and preserve the history and tradition for the descendants of these people as they merge and integrate into the modern cultures of their respective countries. This is a good introduction to the history of the Black Seminoles and their connection to the histories of the United States and Mexico.