Spanish/Portuguese/Native American Contributions in American History

 Cyndie Goins Hoelscher, author/historian/public speaker from Corpus Christi, Texas, is the author of "Judging the Moore County Goings/Goyens/Goins family of Moore County, North Carolina," in Carolina Genesis: Beyond the Color Line." Returning from her inaugural book-signing at the Melungeon Heritage Association's 14th Gathering, Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, she defines her mission as an attempt to bring the diverse American multi-ethnic history into text books, beginning with William Goyens, Jr, a Portuguese/Native American hero in Texas history.  Our text books focus mostly on Britain's colonization efforts beginning with Roanoake and the Lost Colony, while Spanish/Portuguese and Native American histories are sadly absent from our history.

William Goyens, Jr of Nacogdoches, Texas (1794-1836) was once billed as a runaway slave from South Carolina.  He played an important role in negotiating the Houston-Forbes Treaty with Chief Bowles which secured the future of the Republic of Texas.

Records from Goyens' birthplace in North Carolina reveal his grandfather was a "native of Portugal."  His family in North Carolina are considered Croatan/Lumbee.  Why isn't this Spanish/Portuguese/Native American hero celebrated in Texas history?  Why are there so few references to the Spanish and Portuguese Americans from colonial records?  It is time to step up and celebrate America's diverse heritage by acknowledging  "People Known as Other," including the Turks, the Arab peoples, the Roma, the Portuguese, the Spaniards and other sea-faring cultures of the Mediterranean and their contributions to American history.  Our American heritage is a beautiful tapestry of cultures and our multi-ethnic heritage has barely been recognized in the classrooms.

Carolina Genesis: Beyond the Color Line