By DuaneOn

Anyone with any basic knowledge of the history of Black Americans in this country know full well that our lineage contains the admixtures of multiple cultures. Contrary to what some WANT to believe, our dominate admixture comes from West and Central Africa due to the transatlantic slave trade. This admixture does in fact include some of the natives that were already here. There is no denying that fact.

But did these natives identify THEMSELVES as “Black”, as in what we define the word today? To find out that answer, we must take an unbiased and truthful look at the people some Black Americans want to claim as their own.

In this post, I have opted to turn to the “Deep Research” feature of ChatGPT to take a closer look at an image that was recently posted by Tariq Nasheed.

Nasheed, like many other online based historians who have a history of playing fast and loose with history to drive certain agendas will oftentimes create posts like this that encourage followers to draw their own conclusions: a conclusion that he is pointing them to. In this case, a significant number of so-called Black Americans today were already here and never came from Africa.

So now, let’s get on with our deep dive and find out the truth regarding this picture.

Title: A Historical Analysis of “Indian Jim and His Three Sons” and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

Introduction

A photograph currently circulating on social media has been presented as “proof” that many Black Americans are, in fact, Native Americans who were reclassified and thus do not have significant African roots. The photograph in question features a man known as “Indian Jim” and his three sons, identified as members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (located in what is now Oregon). This research paper aims to:

  1. Identify the origin of this image and the tribe they belong to.
  2. Show, with links and references, whether or not this tribe was commonly mistaken as Black Americans. If there are any documented findings of Black American admixture, we will include that as well.
  3. Provide a side-by-side comparison (10 examples) of the culture of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs versus that of Black Americans, highlighting distinct differences in food, language, hair, religion, and more.
  4. Explain how wet plate photographs (common in the 19th and early 20th centuries) could make the subjects’ skin appear darker.
  5. Conclude with a summary accessible to a 16-year-old reader.

All information presented is backed by exhaustive references at the end, including the link provided:

1. Origin of the Image and Tribal Affiliation

1.1 Photograph Origin

  • The photograph, as indicated by the Washington State University Plateau Peoples’ Web Portal, depicts a man named “Indian Jim” and his three sons.
  • This photo is labeled as part of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs heritage collection, housed in various archival institutions.
  • The date of the photograph is not precisely listed in some records, but based on style of dress and photographic technique (likely wet plate or an early variation of silver gelatin), it is often estimated to be from the late 19th or early 20th century.

1.2 Tribal Affiliation: Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

  • The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are located in central Oregon and consist primarily of three main tribes:
  1. The Warm Springs (Sahaptin)
  2. The Wasco (Chinookan)
  3. The Paiute (Northern Paiute)
  • These tribes united under the Treaty of 1855 with the United States government, which created the Warm Springs Reservation.
  • “Indian Jim” and his sons, as identified by the linked source, were members of these confederated tribes.

Reference Links

2. Were They Mistaken as Black Americans? Evidence of Admixture

2.1 Common Misidentification?

  • Geographical and Historical Context: The Warm Springs Reservation is in central Oregon. Historically, the Black population in Oregon was quite small, especially in the 19th century, due in part to exclusionary laws that discouraged or outright forbade Black settlement in the territory and state (the Oregon Black exclusion laws of 1844, 1849, and 1857).
  • Ethnographic Records: Ethnographers and photographers such as Edward S. Curtis (not necessarily the photographer of this specific image but active during a similar era) consistently identified and documented the Warm Springs people as Native Americans, not as Black Americans.

Therefore, the tribe in this photo was not broadly mistaken as Black Americans in contemporary records. The subjects in these photographs were recognized by historians, photographers, and local authorities as members of a Native American tribe, not reclassified Black Americans.

2.2 Documented Findings of African American Admixture?

  • While some Native tribes in the southeastern and central United States (e.g., the “Five Civilized Tribes” in Oklahoma) have well-documented histories of intermarriage or forced assimilation with African Americans, there is comparatively less historical record of extensive African American admixture among the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in Oregon.
  • That being said, individual families or individuals may have had varied ancestries due to personal histories or movement. However, no mainstream historical, anthropological, or tribal documents identify “Indian Jim” or his family specifically as having African American ancestry.

Reference Links

3. Side-by-Side Cultural Comparison (Warm Springs vs. Black Americans)

Below is a simplified comparison of ten cultural aspects, showing how the traditions of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs differ significantly from those that emerged among Black Americans (particularly in the Southeast and later across the United States).

AspectWarm Springs (Confederated Tribes)Black Americans
1. LanguageHistorically spoke Sahaptin, Wasco-Wishram (Chinookan), and Northern Paiute. Many now speak English, but tribal languages are preserved through revitalization programs.

Source: Warm Springs Language Program		Historically developed from a mix of West and Central African languages, combined with English to form African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Modern Black Americans primarily speak English, with distinct dialects (AAVE).

Source: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
2. Religion/SpiritualityTraditional beliefs included Washat (Seven Drums) religion, vision quests, and reverence for natural elements like rivers and mountains. Later, some adopted or combined Christianity with traditional practices.

Source: Columbia River Institute for Indigenous Development		Historically, a majority of Black Americans practiced or practice various denominations of Christianity (Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal), with some influences from African spiritual traditions (e.g., call-and-response worship).

Source: PBS: The Black Church
3. Food CultureRelied on local resources: salmon, deer, elk, root vegetables (camas, bitterroot), huckleberries. Cooking methods included open-fire roasting and drying.

Source: Plateau Indian Ways with Salmon and Meat		Influenced by African, European, and Native American foodways. “Soul food” includes dishes like collard greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, fried chicken, and barbecue.

Source: Smithsonian Magazine – The Origins of Soul Food
4. HousingTraditionally used mat-covered longhouses and later tepees during seasonal travels. Modern housing on reservations includes standard American homes but often near or alongside traditional structures.

Source: National Park Service – Plateau Housing		Historically, in slavery-era times, lived in quarters provided by slave owners. Post-emancipation, many lived in sharecropper cabins, then urban or rural housing. Today, typical modern American housing with regional variations.

Source: Library of Congress – After Slavery Housing
5. Hair & StylingHair often worn in long braids; significance tied to identity and spiritual beliefs. Hair was cut only on special occasions or during periods of mourning.

Source: Native Appropriations – Significance of Hair		Black Americans have a wide variety of hair textures (typically curly to kinky). Cultural styles include Afros, braids, locks, twists, etc. Hair is also a strong cultural and political symbol.

Source: [“Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America” by Ayana Byrd and Lori Tharps (book)]
6. Music & DanceDances often connected to ceremonies, drumming, and flute music. Songs and dances may revolve around seasonal cycles and celebrations (e.g., root feasts, salmon harvest).

Source: Warm Springs Museum Exhibits		Rich tradition of spirituals, gospel, jazz, blues, hip-hop, and more. Dance forms include ring shouts, tap, hip-hop, and various modern styles.

Source: Smithsonian Folkways – African American Music
7. ClothingTraditional regalia includes dresses made from deer hides, beadwork, and woven hats. Men wore leggings, breechcloths, or shirts with beadwork. Post-contact, items like cloth dresses and wide-brim hats were adopted.

Source: Plateau Indian Clothing – Plateau Portal		Historically, during slavery, limited clothing options were available. Post-emancipation, clothing aligned with mainstream American fashion. However, distinct cultural attire can be seen in church hats, zoot suits (historically), and Afrocentric clothing in certain movements.

Source: The Root – History of Black Fashion
8. Family StructureExtended family networks and communal living were common. Elders hold significant status. Many responsibilities are shared within the tribe.

Source: National Museum of the American Indian		Historically shaped by enslavement, separation of families, and later migration. Modern structures are diverse, but extended families and matriarchal influences remain strong in many Black American communities.

Source: [The African American Family in Slavery and Emancipation by Wilma Dunaway (book)]
9. Oral Traditions & StorytellingEmphasis on creation stories, coyote tales, and other legends passed down verbally. Oral tradition is key to preserving language and culture.

Source: University of Oregon – Plateau Storytelling		Rich oral traditions include folktales, spirituals, and narratives about slavery and freedom. These traditions blend African storytelling elements with American experiences.

Source: Library of Congress – Born in Slavery Narratives
10. Genetic / DNA MarkersGenetic studies of Warm Springs tribal members typically show markers consistent with other Plateau tribes, primarily Indigenous ancestry. Some individuals may have partial European or other ancestry due to intermarriage, but large-scale African admixture is not commonly documented.

Source: University of Washington – Genetic History of Plateau Tribes		Black Americans generally have a predominantly West and Central African genetic background, with admixture from European and (to a lesser extent) Native American lineages. Percentages vary individually, but the average African ancestry often exceeds 70-80%.

Source: American Journal of Human Genetics, 2014 – Genetic Ancestry in African Americans

4. Wet Plate Photography and Skin Tone

Wet plate photography, also known as the collodion process, was commonly used from the 1850s to the 1880s, gradually replaced by dry plate processes and then by more modern film processes. However, photographers in remote areas sometimes continued using older methods into the early 20th century.

  • Exposure and Contrast: The chemicals used in wet plate photography were particularly sensitive to blue light, often underrepresenting red and yellow tones. This means that people with darker complexions could appear even darker or with less detail in the highlights.
  • Lighting Conditions: Outdoor photography in bright sunlight could produce high-contrast images, making shadows very deep and skin tones appear darker.
  • Long Exposure Times: Subjects had to remain still for seconds to minutes. Any movement could blur details, sometimes affecting the clarity of facial features.

Thus, if someone appears quite dark in a wet plate image, it is partly because of the camera’s sensitivity and the lighting environment, rather than an accurate reflection of the individual’s exact skin tone.

Reference Links

Summary of Key Points

  1. Photograph & Tribe: The image of “Indian Jim and his Three Sons” is from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in Oregon.
  2. Reclassification Myth: There is no credible historical evidence that these individuals were considered Black Americans or that they represent a broad reclassification of Native people into Black Americans.
  3. Admixture: While Native American and African American intermarriages did occur in certain regions, no substantial documentation shows large-scale admixture among the Warm Springs people, especially for “Indian Jim” and his sons.
  4. Cultural Differences: From language (Sahaptin, Wasco, Paiute vs. English/AAVE) and religion (Washat vs. predominantly Christian traditions) to foodways (salmon, roots vs. soul food staples) and genetic ancestry, the distinctions between Warm Springs and Black American cultures are clear and well-documented.
  5. Photography Darkening Effect: Wet plate photography often rendered skin tones darker due to chemical sensitivities and lighting conditions. This can mislead modern viewers into assuming a person’s skin tone was darker than it might have been in reality.

In conclusion, the claim that this photograph is evidence of widespread “reclassification” of Native Americans as Black Americans is not supported by historical, anthropological, or genetic data. While cultural exchange and intermarriage between African Americans and certain Native groups in other regions did occur, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs maintain a distinct Indigenous heritage and identity that is rooted in their languages, religions, foods, and historical records.

Exhaustive Source List

  1. Primary Photo Reference
  1. Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
  1. Native American and African American Historical Context
  1. Cultural Comparisons
  1. Wet Plate Photography

Note on Additional Images: As requested, if any further images are used, they should be sourced exclusively from archives related to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs or the Plateau Peoples’ Web Portal to ensure authenticity and respect for cultural heritage.

Final Takeaway

While cultural interconnections have existed across different communities in the United States, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs hold a distinctly Indigenous identity, shaped by their languages, customs, and historical records. The photograph of “Indian Jim and his Three Sons” is a testament to Native American heritage, not evidence of a widespread reclassification of Native Americans as Black Americans. The cultural, linguistic, and genetic records overwhelmingly support their tribal affiliation and traditions, and wet plate photography’s technical nuances help explain why subjects can appear darker than they might in person.

This analysis underscores the importance of critical examination of primary sources and culturally specific historical records to understand the past accurately.