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A Festive Dance.

John White drew this “green corn” celebration in the Native village of Secoton sometime around 1585. The Native peoples in his drawings appear exotic yet also reassuringly familiar. Their poses, resembling figures in classical antiquity, and their discreetly draped clothes may have been intended to calm English fears of Native violence and immorality. White, who was appointed governor of the unsuccessful Virginia colony of Roanoke in 1587, underplayed or omitted many aspects of Native peoples' lives that would disturb English sensibilities and deter potential colonists.

Source: John White, watercolor over black lead, touched with white, ca. 1585, 10 3/4 × 14 1/8 inches—British Museum.

Who Built America? An Open Educational Resource has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and funding from The Ford Foundation, Digital Scholar, and the City University of New York Central Office of Library Services. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this Open Educational Resource, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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