Soulaan featured in THE METRO RECORD

https://themetrorecord.com/soulaan-naming-a-people-reclaiming-a-legacy/

Soulaan is not just another label. It is a carefully crafted ethnonym that refers specifically to Black Americans whose lineage can be traced back to chattel slavery in the United States. It defines a cultural group, not a race or a nationality. It offers a distinct identity that is rooted in history and alive with cultural power.

Coined in 2020 by T-Roy Parks, Maroc Wallace, and Dwayne Coleman, the word Soulaan stands for “Soul Autochthonous American.” The word “soul” points to the unmistakable cultural heartbeat of Black America. It evokes music, movement, faith, language, resilience, and resistance. It reminds us of the depth and beauty that Black Americans have brought to every corner of this country’s cultural life.

“Autochthonous” means indigenous to the land. In this context, it reflects the fact that Black Americans are not recent arrivals. Though their ancestors were violently displaced from Africa, their descendants have lived on American soil for centuries, often longer than many families who are considered part of the American mainstream. To be Soulaan is to be of this land, not by choice but by survival. It is to belong to a people forged in American soil, through centuries of enslavement, emancipation, and endurance.….. 

https://themetrorecord.com/soulaan-naming-a-people-reclaiming-a-legacy/