The ethnonym “Soulaan,” coined by its creators T-Roy, Maroc, and Dwayne Coleman (Midnight), stands as a powerful expression of identity for a distinct group within the Black American community. More than a simple ethnic designation, Soulaan is a declaration of the unique cultural, historical, and ancestral roots of Black Americans who descend from the survivors of chattel enslavement in the United States. This term speaks to the indigenous Black population of North America and places emphasis on their complex history, distinct from the narratives often used to define Blackness solely in terms of African ancestry. The roots of the word “Soulaan” are significant, symbolizing the deeply ingrained cultural association with “soul,” which has long been central to the identity of Black Americans. The inclusion of the double “a” in Soulaan refers specifically to “Autochthonous American…. Click here for the full article
