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She learned traditional Kiowa crafts from her step-mother: sewing, cooking, tanning buffalo hides, making teepees, and basketweaving. When the members of the tribe raised enough money, they built a small school and hired a teacher. The Black Indian schools were operated by what were known as The Five Civilized Tribes: The Creek, Chicasaw, Cherokee, Choctaw, and Seminole.
Diana later attended Hampton Institute in Virginia, a college that was originally opened for Black students, but also opened its doors to Indians.
Diana's father was born in Virginia. His parents were born in Africa and brought to America as slaves. While still a young child he was sold to a man who lived in Florida. He ran away and lived with the Seminole Indians. Though still a slave, they treated him better than his former master. He married a Seminole woman. She died on "The Trail of Tears," the forced relocation of Indians to Oklahoma.
Diana's main accomplishment was valuing and preserving her family's history, culture and values, while, at the same time, learning to adjust and adapt to white American society. Because of ignorance, prejudice and racial hostility, there was an attempt to force Black Indians to reject their heritage. Because people like Diana maintained their traditions, we can now learn about their important contributions to the history of America.
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