Every couple of weeks, a new identity pops up and people rush to associate themselves with it. Being a nonchalant dreadhead or a ‘sigma rizzler,’ are some of the most popular ones, but this new one is on the come-up.
Soulaan is a term used to describe black people who descend from chattel enslavement in the US and people who can trace their roots back and see that their ancestors were born in America. According to the 2025 book, The Soulaan Guide, “It’s used to describe the autochthonous (Formerly) Black Americans of North America, USA, who can trace their lineage here by frequency and autochthonous roots to Morocco. The term ‘Soulaan’ pays homage to the deep sovereign cultural association between Black Americans and soul and Sun, symbolizing the ‘Soul people.’ Our connection to Earth as spirit and Sun as Soul Flame. We are American by ethnicity, which makes us different from everyone else.”
Being Soulaan is often associated with the Black American Heritage flag because the colors incorporate symbolic elements. Every color: red, yellow and black, represents unity and hope within the community. It was created in 1967 by Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson. It was very popular when it was made and over time the newer generations have begun to learn about it and keep it in the spotlight. Senior Amari Day said, “Even though I’m a light-skinned African American, I still connect to the culture.”
With so many ways to identify, it’s hard to decide which one is right for you personally. There’s so much uncertainty when it comes to what you want others to know about you. For Black Americans, it’s not very easy to trace their roots.
Some Black Americans prefer not to associate themselves with this relatively new identity for several reasons. One of the most common reasons is that most Black Americans like to be called Black. English teacher Mrs. Stewart-Williams said, “I think that growing up, for me, it was very important to be proud of being Black, so I think that I would stick with the mainstream, like James Brown’s ‘I’m Black and I’m Proud.’”
Heritage and identity help you find who you are, who you’ve been, and who you might have been. It provides a sense of belonging in your community and in some cases, your family, too.
Your heritage is one of the most important parts of your identity. For a long time, Black Americans have not struggled to find their culture, but rather to figure out their exact lineage. Because of chattel slavery, many families were separated, names were changed and identities were lost. These names and memories are so hard to recover due to the constant movement of people. Black people now have new ways to identify themselves, if they choose to, that separate them from the identities given to their ancestors by enslavers.
Every single person on this Earth is connected in some way. Language, history, identity and culture have a place in everyone, whether or not you choose to share them. Embrace who you are! Share what you have to offer, and never be afraid of where you come from.
