Black Indians ? (1 Viewer)

Russell

Russell

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In this set of four woodland Indians one of them is pretty black. Why did Frontline do this? Is it supposed to be an especially dark tan? :confused:
 

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I think some were pretty dark.I read a description from a 19th cen. book.the writer saying that one was so black he thought it was a black man.
Mark
 
Russell said:
In this set of four woodland Indians one of them is pretty black. Why did Frontline do this? Is it supposed to be an especially dark tan? :confused:
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The two major ingredients in body paint were charcoal and red clay. The main face and body paint was red which some scholars say gave rise to the term "redskin" . Black face paint signified mourning. Sometimes Indians used black face and body paint when going to war as they expected someone to die.

Terry
 
There are 3 good documentaries on the French and Indian War --- 2 by Paladin and 1 by PBS Pittsburgh (The War that Made America). Several of the Indians reinactors in each of the productions were in nearly full black body paint, so I think they got it right.
 
Also run away slaves were on occasion taken into the Creek nation. I heard also of there being black men in the Seminole nation. There were most likely some in other tribes near the slave holding colonies/states.
 
The documentation in this thread alone, is enough to make me believe the black is authentic as war paint, a black slave converted or skin tone of true Indian, however the single black figure is what has kept me from collecting this set in the past.

I just don't want a black colored Indian, he just doesn't look right to me.

I never understood this set.
 
mikemiller1955 said:
The documentation in this thread alone, is enough to make me believe the black is authentic as war paint, a black slave converted or skin tone of true Indian, however the single black figure is what has kept me from collecting this set in the past.

I just don't want a black colored Indian, he just doesn't look right to me.

I never understood this set.
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Hi Mike,
The black painted indian aside, I bought this set, and to be honest, wish I hadn't. IMO the poses are too static, the scuplting average and the painting so so. Contrast with WIM-01 by JJD.

Pete
 
chalklands said:
Hi Mike,
The black painted indian aside, I bought this set, and to be honest, wish I hadn't. IMO the poses are too static, the scuplting average and the painting so so. Contrast with WIM-01 by JJD.

Pete
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Pete, I saw them at the San Antonio show at Hobby Bunker's booth I believe,

and you are right,

they were not a good mix with John's WIM's.

They were okay, but John's newer ones are sculpted much nicer.

John might have done these, but I don't think he did.

Still, that black Indian stood out like a "sore thumb".
 
the only other thing I can think of is that it is supposed to be a runaway African slave, which it is well documented that several intermingled with Indian tribes, especially in Seminole country, but I'm sure it was not uncommon everywhere.
 
Here is K&C's AWI Indian with black body paint:
 

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Hello all,
There were many black indians and White Indians in those times. People were kidnapped and brought into the tribe, I believe one tribe at one point had a visibly white chief- the adopted son of an elder, actually it may have been the abanaki.. These Children were kidnapped or survivors and became "full members".
Tecumseh himself was reported to be painted completely black with his face Black and Red down the middle.... sorry I can't site exact references.
 
I have read many accounts of indigenous black (dark skinned) Indians...accepted, adopted or captured African Indians and black war painted Indians...

A black painted metal figure of an Indian is correct...I just don't care for them that much...

I have read many accounts of white settlers both captured and willingly joining Indian tribes...

I believe at St. Francis...a "white" Indian held the position of Chief at some time...

JJD's does make one...

again...he's just not one of my favorites...

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I always thought the black skin was warpaint - note the light flesh hands on the JJ and K&C figure pictures below. However, I'm sure there were dark-skinned Indians as well as those with Black heritage - for any numbr of reasons. In any case, I have both these sets, and they look just great to me.
 
Read the book Blacksnake's Path.Blacksnake was born William Wells and was captured by the Miami's.He was adopted into the tribe and eventually married Little Turtle's daughter.He fought with Little Turtle in St. Clair's defeat he was also Anthony Wayne's scout in the Battle of Fallen Timbers.He was killed in 1812 in the Ft.Dearborn Massacure.
Mark
 
Hi all,
While researching for various museum projects I have read several period sources documenting black as well as red coloring used by the Native Americans for body decoration.
One Kentucky infantryman captured at the Battle of the River Raison in 1813 described the warrior claiming him as a prize as having his face painted totally black with a cluster of feathers at the back of his head. Additionally there are many paintings created in the eighteenth and nineteenth century that show black as well as red or other colors used for face and body decoration.
The meaning of various markings and colors was personal and was by no means had universal meanings from tribe to tribe, although I find it interesting that many very divergent cultures assign similar meanings to red, white and black colorings.
Just because something might look foreign to us today does not mean that it is historically incorrect.
Ken
 
There is a very famous incident of a White Indian's face being painted totally black from Chicago's frontier history.

William Wells was a "White Indian" adopted by the Miami in the perriod of early Kentucky's settlement. Wells, known as Black Snake, fought with the confederacy of tribes under the Miami Little Turtle, (his father in law), and Blue Jacket, the Shawnee War Chief, that stood up to American incursions in the Ohio country. Wells fought against the Americans at Harmar's Defeat and St. Clair's Defeat. Wells then aligned himself with the Americans, becoming Anthony Wayne's Chief of Scouts during the campaign that culminated in Fallen Timbers. At any rate, years later in 1812, as the Fedral Government's Indian Agent for the Miami and an officer in the Militia, Wells was dispatched to Fort Dearborn, (now Chicago) to help the garrison evacuate in the face of growing animosity and violence from the local Pottowatamie in the wake of the defeat of Tecumseh's confederacy at Tippicanoe.

Wells' experience as a "White Indian", but with his allegience now firmly with the Americans, led him to recognize that by evacuating the fort pursuant to orders to do so from General Hull in Detroit that the garrison and the civilians it was supposed to protect were doomed. Wells is reported to have ridden out of the fort at the head of the column of evacuees with his face painted totally black in the Miami fashion of one who accepted his impending death. Wells was also singing his Miami Death Song. And the Regulars small band of five musicians was playing a dirge, or death march.About a mile from the fort the entire column was either killed or captured. Wells, well know to the Pottowatamie wnet down fighting, whereupon his heart was rent from his chest and eaten by his opponents (picture Colonel Munro's demise in the movie "Last of the Mohicans").

As I look at my John Jenkins, Conte and Frontline Indians with faces and entire bodies painted black I have wondered if they were also showing their preparedness to die in battle as William Wells did almost 200 years ago.
Marc Gaynes
Chicago
 
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