The Creoles of color are a historic ethnic group of Creole people that
developed in the former French and Spanish colonies of Louisiana
(especially in the city of New Orleans), Mississippi, Alabama, and
Northwestern Florida in what is now the United States. French
colonists in Louisiana first used the term "Creole" to refer to whites
born in the colony, rather than in France. It was also used for
enslaved people born in the colony.But as a group of mixed-race people
developed from unions between Europeans, Africans, Native Americans
and Spanish the term Creoles of color was applied to them. In some
cases, white fathers would free their concubines and children, forming
a class of Gens de couleur libres (free people of color). The French
and Spanish gave them more rights than enslaved people.Mixed-race
Creoles of color became identified as a distinct ethnic group, Gens de
couleur libres (free persons of color), prior to the 19th century.
During Louisiana's colonial period, Créole referred to people born in
Louisiana whose ancestors had come from elsewhere; i.e., all natives
other than Native Americans. The term Créole was first used by French
colonists to distinguish themselves from foreign-born settlers, and
later as distinct from Anglo-American settlers. Colonial documents
show that the term Créole was used variously at different times to
refer to white people, mixed-race people, and black people, including
slaves. The "of color" is thus a necessary qualifier, as
"Creole"/Créole do not on their own convey any racial
connotation.Many Creoles of color were free, and their descendants
often enjoyed many of the same privileges that whites did, including
(but not limited to) property ownership, formal education, and service
in the militia. During the antebellum period, their society was
structured along class lines and they tended to marry within their
group. While it was not illegal, it was a social taboo for Creoles of
color to marry slaves and it was a rare occurrence. Some of the
wealthier and prosperous Creoles of color owned slaves themselves.
Other Creoles of color, such as Thomy Lafon, used their social
position to support the abolitionist cause.
developed in the former French and Spanish colonies of Louisiana
(especially in the city of New Orleans), Mississippi, Alabama, and
Northwestern Florida in what is now the United States. French
colonists in Louisiana first used the term "Creole" to refer to whites
born in the colony, rather than in France. It was also used for
enslaved people born in the colony.But as a group of mixed-race people
developed from unions between Europeans, Africans, Native Americans
and Spanish the term Creoles of color was applied to them. In some
cases, white fathers would free their concubines and children, forming
a class of Gens de couleur libres (free people of color). The French
and Spanish gave them more rights than enslaved people.Mixed-race
Creoles of color became identified as a distinct ethnic group, Gens de
couleur libres (free persons of color), prior to the 19th century.
During Louisiana's colonial period, Créole referred to people born in
Louisiana whose ancestors had come from elsewhere; i.e., all natives
other than Native Americans. The term Créole was first used by French
colonists to distinguish themselves from foreign-born settlers, and
later as distinct from Anglo-American settlers. Colonial documents
show that the term Créole was used variously at different times to
refer to white people, mixed-race people, and black people, including
slaves. The "of color" is thus a necessary qualifier, as
"Creole"/Créole do not on their own convey any racial
connotation.Many Creoles of color were free, and their descendants
often enjoyed many of the same privileges that whites did, including
(but not limited to) property ownership, formal education, and service
in the militia. During the antebellum period, their society was
structured along class lines and they tended to marry within their
group. While it was not illegal, it was a social taboo for Creoles of
color to marry slaves and it was a rare occurrence. Some of the
wealthier and prosperous Creoles of color owned slaves themselves.
Other Creoles of color, such as Thomy Lafon, used their social
position to support the abolitionist cause.
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