Melungeon (/ m ə ˈ l ʌ n dʒ ən / mə-LUN-jən) (sometimes also spelled Malungean, Melangean, Melungean, Melungin [3]) was a slur [4] historically applied to individuals and families of mixed-race ancestry with roots in colonial Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina primarily descended from free people of color and white settlers.

Jan 25, 2024 · My journey tracing 40 of the most famous and impactful Melungeons revealed stories of triumph in the face of adversity. Their drive for justice and equality laid the foundation for progress still unfolding today.

Sometimes called the “Lost Tribe of Appalachia,” the Melungeons are people of mixed ethnicity who claim varying degrees of Portuguese, Turkish, Moorish, Arabic, Jewish, American Indian and African descent.

Sep 20, 2024 · Today, the Melungeon story has begun to re-emerge as scholars and genealogists delve into the roots of this mysterious group. DNA testing has revealed the complexity of Melungeon ancestry, confirming a mixture of European, African, and Native American bloodlines.

Mar 26, 2024 · Some have speculated the Melungeons were descendants of Portuguese explorers who shipwrecked at sea, Gypsies, and even pushed ridiculous claims that they could have been one of the Lost Tribes of...

Feb 3, 2025 · The Melungeons are a mixed-race people whose origin is associated with the general region of Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky in the United States; particularly concentrated in the areas of Eastern Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Northwest North Carolina.

Jul 11, 2012 · For centuries the Melungeon people of Appalachia believed they were of Portuguese descent. Turns out, their direct lineage is more African than anything else. Guest host Maria Hinojosa speaks...

Jan 24, 2021 · Within the Appalachian Mountains, from the mountainous regions of Tennessee and Virginia, to parts of Kentucky, there has traditionally been a group of people known as the Melungeons.

Oct 8, 2017 · Since the late 1700s observers have pondered the who, what, why, and where of the people in Tennessee they called Melungeons.

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