•The life of John Horse structures the trail narrative and stands as the consummate expression of the Black Seminoles' nineteenth-century odyssey. •Though not widely known, this black pioneer's life forms one of the most heroic chapters of frontier America -- an Homeric hymn to the ideals, injustice, and complexities of the American experiment. Via Seminole Nation Museum #Black #Seminoles, also called #SeminoleMaroons or #SeminoleFreedmen, a group of free blacks and runaway slaves (#maroons) that joined forces with the Seminole Indians in Florida from approximately 1700 through the 1850s. The #BlackSeminoles were celebrated for their bravery and tenacity during the three Seminole Wars. Via Encyclopedia Britannica •Born in Spanish Florida in 1812 of allegedly mixed #African and #Indian ancestry, John Horse rose to prominence during the Second #SeminoleWar (1835-1842). Several times during the conflict, his daring exploits sparked new life into the allied #Seminole resistance. By 1837, he led the black portion of the uprising in the climactic Battle of Lake Okeechobee. More than any other leader, his actions helped produce the promise of freedom that the U.S. Army extended to black rebels to close out their portion of the war. •For forty years after the rebellion, #JohnHorse led his followers in #Oklahoma, #Texas, and #Mexico as they overcame slave raiders, corrupt politicians, and hostile Native Americans in their pursuit of a free homeland. •Out west, with strong ties to both the Army and the Seminole tribal leadership, John Horse could have pursued security for himself and his family. Instead, he chose to pursue the wider good of his community. This course of action nearly got him killed on several occasions, but it ultimately allowed him to contribute to the lives of all Americans by advancing the cause of national freedom. •Not only did John Horse's actions save hundreds of lives from slavery, but his leadership, albeit anonymously, inspired the country's leading #abolitionists. Via https://www.seminolenationmuseum.org/m.blog/23/the-seminole-freedmen-a-brief-history #worldhistory #NativeHistory #Americanhistory #ushistory #blackhistorymonth #blackhistory (at United States) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLuPAcchfDI/?igshid=qcig5reda2bo