The subject of European colonization is steeped in controversy and a constant hot button topic. The quest to find treasures, spices, textiles, even God, are said to be the motivation for European kingdoms to fund expensive explorations all around the globe.  Tracing the ethnic heritage of Chief Resul M. M. Bey was a winding road, reaching far earlier than the recorded dates of European flags being planted in the Western Hemisphere.  Long before the Spanish-funded infamous voyage of explorer Christopher Columbus, many tribes of peoples already inhabited the Greater (and Lesser) Antilles.  The Greater Antilles consist of four of the largest islands in the Caribbean:  Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.  

Both terms ‘Taino’ and ‘Moor’ can actually be classified as exonyms.  An exonym is a name given to a group of people by an outsider, not necessarily used by the ethnic people themselves.  Various historical accounts retelling Columbus' first encounter with the native Arawak island men say the natives spoke the words, “Taino, Taino…”, meaning “We are good.  We are noble people.”   Wholly unfamiliar with Arawakan pidgin, it is believed Columbus mistakenly took the introduction to mean this is what they were called.  He went on to make subsequent visits to the islands in the following years.  Because these Spanish explorations were men only voyages, this subsequently led to the birth of ‘mestizo’, or mixed-race children. Unfortunately, the connection among the Arawak and Spaniards would sour and one of the largest genocides in history would take place, rendering the Arawak almost extinct in the Greater Antilles. Many surviving indigenous peoples fled to outer areas of the Greater Antilles and into the Lesser Antilles.  

In recent years, many descendants of the Arawak have been discovered through ancestry registries.  As a Tribal Chief, Resul M. M. Bey researched his Puerto Rican family lineage proudly embraces his heritage as Taino.  Today, the Chief is in love with who he is and wants share his love by educating with LOVE, TRUTH, PEACE, FREEDOM & JUSTICE.  In order to progress and move forward, we must learn the uncomfortable truth about the past to prevent a repeat the same atrocities. The TAINO MOOR TRIBE seeks to be recognized as an indigenous tribe by all cultures and government. Nothing can be done about the past except learn from it, educate one another, and move forward into a healthy tomorrow.