Cajuns & Creoles: Really A Difference? Part One.
Introduction
HOW CULTURE IS CREATED
*
Environment and geography provide particular food products available for consumption by animals.
Animals utilizing vocals to communicate then create sounds or words to make communication clear between themselves. Those sounds become words, holding specific meaning. As the environment (climate) and geography become more complex (climatic changes with seasons, for example), then word base, or vocabulary, becomes more extensive and more complex to evolve as the environment evolves.
As the environment becomes more complex, and vocabulary of humans more extensive, the sum of these complexities is what we know of as *culture*.
In other words, climate and geography create environment. The environment creates living organisms, such as plants and animals (including humans). And all three of those create language. Communication (language), food, geography, climate then create culture.
ACADIANS
*
Adopted on 15 Aug 1884 as the “Flag of Acadia” at the 2nd Acadian National Convention, held Miscouche, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Most textbooks, workbooks, and contemporary folklore on Louisiana will trick you into believing that Acadians were the most numerous and powerful clans to arrive in Louisiana. And those same bodies of literature will also have you believe that the Acadians were victims of ethnic genocide, stripped from their own land in Nova Scotia by the British simply because they were Francophones and Catholics.
Do not be fooled by these myths: these refugees numbered no more than 2900 in all of Louisiana and were in all regions of resettlement, with the exception of St. James Parish, minorities within the much larger Louisiana Francophone community, and they were exiled out of Nova Scotia for political economic reasons – the British simply wanted–and seized–their fertile lands.
When the Francophones from Nova Scotia arrived at the Cabildo’s door, begging for political asylum in 1765, the Spanish Administration of Louisiana was reluctant, yet desperate to beef up the sparse population on the extreme southern and western periphery of the colony to guard the boundaries from encroaching British. These émigrés quite literally arrived with only the clothing on their backs, and not even that much.
These Francophones were known as the “neutral French” in both Canada, New England, England and in Louisiana. Although, references to “la province de l’Accadie” do appear in ecclesiastical records for Saint-Martin-de-Tours Roman Catholic Church in St. Martinville (inc. in 1756).
In the eastern maritime provinces of Canada, the winters were blisteringly cold with typical temperatures dropping below -10ºF. The climate along the coast provided for lush vegetation and an abundance of seafood. Accordingly, these neutral French expanded their vocabulary to describe their environment and available foodstuffs. They typically wore heavy clothing made from pelts.
South Louisiana’s climate was sub-tropical, where humidity and hurricanes replaced blizzards. Mosquitoes were known as “killer mosquitoes” and the land loaned to the neutral French in Louisiana in the less developed areas of South and Southwest Louisiana. They had to set up farms in order to pay the government back within a certain length of time. How to accomplish this without knowing anything about the land and locals?
Église Saint-Martin-de-Tours Church. St. Martinville, St. Martin, Louisiana.
When the neutral French arrived in the bayou country, they were without a doubt minority in numbers, for the region was already populated with Amerindians, Louisiana Creoles, a few Anglos (speakers of English, including slaves and slave masters from New England) and Africans. Although Saint-Martin-de-Tours Church has been dubbed “The Mother Church of the Acadians,” Acadians were not the first in parochial registers of the church.
In the Attakapas District (Iberia, St. Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion and Lafayette parishes), for instance, Frenchman André Masse owned a cattle ranch as early as 1740 where he left about 20 African and Louisiana Creole slaves to operate as he pirated the Caribbean. Parochial and civil records clearly illustrate the autonomy which Masse gave to these slaves, who were close allies and some family of the Atakapas who were the original inhabitants of the land before European invasion. One priest referred to one of Masse’s slaves as “négresse de la savanne” (Prairie grazing deep pigmented female).
In addition to Masse, there were enormous cultivation plantations set up by the 1750s, by French military officers, such as the commandants of the Districts (Atakapas, Opélousas, Lafourche-des-Chétimachas, etc). Those commandants in the Attakapas District included Gabriel Fuselier de la Claire, Alexandre Joseph Chevalier de Clouet, Jean-Louis Farault de la Villebœuvre, Louis-Augustin le Pelletier le Chevalier de la Houssaye and Louis-Charles de Blanc des Neiges.
Accordingly, when the neutral French arrived in these parts (the Attakapas) in 1765 (only 193 total), they were far from left in isolation – communication with local Amerindians, Louisiana Creoles, Francophone, Creolophone, Wolophone Africans was crucial for survival in their new *environment.
The exchange was far from singular, though. Locals taught the émigrés which plants were non-poisonous and edible, how to construct dwellings situated at a particular angle and with a layout to trap cool air inside during the stifling summers and insulation to keep warm air inside during winters. The local construction of houses, in the “poteaux-en-terre” (high stilts) to avoid inundations was of monumental importance during seasons when the waterways rose. The neutral French also were forced, for survival, to adopt local topographical and culinary terminologies (usually Amerindian and West African) and local linguistic patterns.
The Éloi Broussard Home. Typical Provincial Creole Louisiana Home. Originally at Fausse-Pointe/Loreauville (Iberia Parish).
By the second generation the neutral French were marrying with local Louisiana Creoles and others. Census records from the Spanish colonial period (1764-1800) positively demonstrate the “mixed” neutral French-Louisiana Creole quarters, where each lived side-by-side, intermarrying with each out of geographic convenience but equally out of trust developed among the two populations. The 1771 census of the Attakapas report only 30% of the population with Acadian surnames.
***The original post was much longer, and has been edited and broken into 5 parts.
See
Part 2 Languages
Part 3 Cuisine
Part 4 Early 20th Century Turbulence
Part 5 Commodifying New Cultures
Filed under: Acadie, Cajuns, Canary Islanders, Culture, España, France, History, Law, Louisiana, Louisiana Creoles, Louisiane, Malagueños, México, Race/Ethnicity, Slavery, Tejas, United States | 44 Comments
Tags: 2010 U.S. Census Write-In, Cajuns, Louisiana Creoles, Louisiana Culture, Louisiana History
Dear Christophe,
First, I am not a racist nor did I create a fake Facebook profile. Both you and I know that you have absolutely no proof to substantiate such a claim. My arguments were not based on any racist tendencies. In fact, my long-term objective is for society to overcome racism by confronting it rather than disregarding it, as you would have us do.
Second, I am native of Acadia Parish, not Cameron or Calcasieu. And if you would get an education (and earn some actual credentials), you might have the research skills to uncover such information with great ease.
Third, I deleted my group after a truce was negotiated between us via Barry Ancelet — and then, months later, I find this nonsense. Did you think I would never find this post and become upset anew?
Fourth, this blog post of yours is libelous and should be removed asap!
Thank you, and have a good day.
Sincerely,
Gus Gravot
Gus: I think you are emotionally unstable and need to consult a physician, treater or anyone skilled at tackling your particular needs.
Work on that, then get back to me once you can think clearly.
P.S. Do you seriously think your being upset matters to me? I don’t need you for anything in my life. Your words/threats are laughable, at best, and if they serve any purpose in life, it is to remind all of us of the person we should NOT become.
This is my page and everything thereon is here to stay.
Watch what you say, write and to whom, because they’ll come back to bite YOU in the —.
Thank you for the diagnosis, Dr. Landry… LOL
Let me get this straight: You threatened me with legal action for questioning your ideas and methods on a particular issue of common interest(all of three of which are “laughable, at best”). A truce is brokered via a common acquaintance and the issue resolved. And then, months later, you decide to call me a racist in a public forum. And you think I’m the one who needs professional help? I had “let go” of this issue, which is the healthy thing to do. You, however, seem to be holding on; hence, the attack on my character months later. I deleted my Facebook group titled “Louisiana Cajuns & Creoles ≠ Latino” as a courtesy to Barry, not because I suddenly agreed with or was frightened by you. Referring to me as a racist in a public forum is unaccetable. Anyone who knows me knows that this is a ludicrous charge. This is libel — plain and simple. You are engaged in a campaign to smear my good name, and this will not stand. And so, AGAIN, I am simply asking you to remove this post.
You should heed your own advice about watching “what you say, write and to whom, because they’ll come back to bite YOU in the —.” And you should also learn to “let go” — a mental health professional could help you with this problem, as well as your identity issues.
Thank you,
Gus Gravot
Hi Christophe,
Still got this nonsense up, huh? Very well… You know, I’m moving back to Louisiana this summer. And let me assure you of one thing, I can’t wait to cross paths with both you and Rocky McKeon. As Jack Nicholson once said, “YOU FUCKED WITH THE WRONG MARINE!”
Pleasant dreams, sweetheart… Haha
Gus
Dear Readers,
The owner of this blog and I have had disagreements on cultural issues in the past. Obviously he is unable to let go of said disagreements and move on, using this forum to attack my character and reputation. He also has serious issues with his own racial identity, accusing anyone who disagrees with his wide-eyed ideas of racism. He is a master of projection. Please disregard his rude, nonsensical, anti-intellectual behavior.
Thank you,
Gus Gravot
This:
“I’m moving back to Louisiana this summer. And let me assure you of one thing, I can’t wait to cross paths with both you and Rocky McKeon. As Jack Nicholson once said, “YOU FUCKED WITH THE WRONG MARINE!”
…could be considered a threat.
As far as I can tell, there’s only one person in this thread that’s engaging rude, nonsensical, anti-intellectual behavior, and it isn’t Christophe.
Mr. Gravot,
I’d like to ask you a couple of questions, just for clarification. I am a Creole from New Orleans. My family has lived in New Orleans since the 1750′s and in the Louisiana Territory since the late 1600′s. They first appear in Quebec, but make their way to Detroit by 1700 or so. Two generations later, and two generations of intermarriage with Chippewa women and “free women of color” (whatever that meant, whether African, Native American or some combination of either or both of those with European), there’s a marriage record in New Orleans.
However, of the women in my family, there are a great many family names that recur. Theriot and Legeaux are two of those names. The Theriot’s and the Legeaux’s both came to Louisiana in the wake of Le Grande Derangement, from Acadia in 1755. While “Cajuns” came to Louisiana in very specific circumstances, they did not remain an isolated community. They intermarried with the people they met here. Their language changed, and they changed the language of the people they met in Louisiana so that everyone could (more or less) understand one another.
This was 8 years before the Spanish period and 42 years before the American period of Louisiana history. So then, the Acadians lived in Spanish Louisiana longer than they lived in French Louisiana which were both prior to American domination, which thus would qualify as the “Creole” period. That leads me to two questions: if Louisiana was a part of Latin America (i.e. those parts of the Western Hemisphere that speak Latin language, be they French, Spanish, Portuguese, or a Creole language based on any of those), then why should people of that heritage not claim such? My second question is what distinction are you making between Creoles and Cajuns, when it seems that, at most, the latter is a subset of the former?
I am a Creole but, the Theriot’s and Legeaux’s in my family came from Acadia which I am guessing would make me Cajun as well, no? I have family in St. John and St. James parishes. Why is Creole and Cajun identities somehow essentially different and distinct from one another, culturally and historically?
best,
db
Darryl,
First, I never threatened anyone. I simply stated the obvious, that: a) I am returning to Louisiana this summer; b) I am absolutely ecstatic about the inevitability that I will someday cross paths with the aforementioned individuals; and c) I am an extremely pissed off former Marine Sergeant! Now if you choose to interpret my words as a threat of some sort, that’s your choice; there’s nothing that I can do about that, as I am unable to control the meandering thoughts of others.
Second, I am not here to relitigate the Latino issue, so don’t waste your time. I’m not re-engaging in that foolishness. That issue was resolved well over a year ago. If after being rebuked by multiple academic experts Christophe still chooses to lead well-meaning Cajuns and Creoles down this path of ignorance, that’s his choice. In my opinion, there are far more important issues to deal with at this time. Last year it came to my attention that no one worthy of cultural and scholarly respect in Louisiana even listens to what Christophe has to say. So I am done with that nonsense. I do care, however, when my good name is being drug through the mud, such as the way that Christophe has done on this blog so long after our issues were resolved. He makes accusations here with no proof — and that is libel!
Gus
Gus: There’s nothing cogent about your discussion, at all. Actually, it is not even a discussion, it’s an attack (physical and personal).
If being white and Cajun is, according to your standards, qualifications for being noteworthy and being a community elder, then I’m not interested, at all. The world does not revolve around you, Cajuns nor Cajun hegemony. In fact, most literature in the world, revered by historians and other scholars, have not been published by Cajuns. They come from elsewhere.
There’s a real advantage to studying Louisiana from the exterior: you’ve a chance to breath, obtain sincere support in academic circles and you’re not suffocated by Cajunité.
To back up what Darryl said, no university in Louisiana is world renowned, especially not in History. I’ve immense respect for the hard work of Louisianians like Carl and others, but I don’t hold their word as that of Allah. Theirs are simply interpretations just like anyone else’s. We all interpret based on our personal lived experiences. No scientist is 100% objective.
That said, I am interested in documenting history. As such, I record and revisit documents along the way. My interactions with you in 2010 rank among those documents. And they are here and public and will remain so. This is what historians do, you know.
Oh, and to rub in my defiance to adhere to your social strata, you’re not talking to some mediocre student. You’re talking to someone who was going to be tested for Gifted and Talented in Elementary School and wasn’t because his mother refused to have him tested for it (she could not articulate why back then, but she was on to something – it’s a purely reinforcement to social stratification along “ethno-racial” lines). You’re writing to an Honors Graduate who was his Senior Class President, voted by 735 classmates, was the number 1 drum major in the state of Louisiana, with the ranking number 3 marching band in the state. You’re writing to someone who, despite not having “the credentials” you call for, has a Curriculum Vitæ that outnumbers yours in content and depth. Christophe Landry has references in the poorest of favelas in Brazil as well as in offices in D.C. on Capitol Hill, in Geneva at the UN and the World Bank, and at Paris at UNESCO and many other places of great influence. I guess I inherit that from the long line of reflected, respected, respectable and well educated CREOLES (of all hues) I descend from. Further, Christophe Landry speaks the languages of his family and recent ancestors, unlike you. And no, he didn’t learn them at immersion camps, because he’s never been to one.
I don’t need anything from you.
How about you put good use to those dollars spent at Columbia and produce the scholarly research you require of others.
I’ll meet you in that playing field any day.
Mr. Gravot,
You know, I also just have to say that it is extremely disappointing that you can’t be bothered to even engage any of the questions I had for you. I was not privy to whatever debates were going on years ago, and the only thing I have to judge any of this on is Christophe’s interpretation and your hostile reactions.
You see, I am not a proponent of “deracialization” and I found myself very much in agreement with this:
“deracialization, a social and political strategy which is supposed to move humans toward a post-racial utopia (something we should all desire) but is not grounded in a solid historical or anthropological reality. Issues of race can only be addressed and corrected by confronting them head-on, not by ignoring them …avoidance of racially-charged issues only serves to continue the longstanding system of racial oppression which they hope to alleviate through this so-called deracialization.”
I am going to assume you are familiar enough with Hollinger’s “ethno-racial pentagon” of “whites,” “blacks,” “latinos,” native americans” and “asians?” I don’t buy into that at all and that concept of race is an illusion, which I think Christophe would agree. This is not to say that illusions have no power, but it is to say that viewing race in that respect is accepting an essentialist paradigm from the beginning.
Race is a social construct, and it is constructed biologically, culturally and SOMETIMES phenotypically. However, the FUNCTION of race–and I think you would probably agree here–is to facilitate class oppression by superimposing a caste identity on existing class strata. In the US, there has only ever been two caste indentities: white, and non-white; privileged and oppressed. Jacobson, Roediger, Frankenburg and that “Whiteness Studies” crew have built careers illustrating that this is so. You say that Belgians, Romanians, and Francophone Africans are not Latino, but that ignores the nature of the Latino identity as a product of the Western Hemisphere and the specific interactions of Africans, Europeans and Indigenous peoples in the colonies of France, Spain and Portugal (which were QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT from the specific interactions of Africans, Europeans and Indigenous people in the English colonies).
Christophe may have called you a racist, and if he did, then that is just as likely a product of your (mutual) antipathy as anything else, but you do seem to buy into a lot of essentialist notions. You apparently believe that there is an essential difference between Creoles and Latinos and between Creoles and Cajuns when it would seem that were you truly progressive in your view, and less accepting of authoritarian processes of ascription, you would more easily acknowledge the commonalities in this people.
I am a Creole from New Orleans but I have family in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Argentina. I have some family that are considered “white,” some that are “black,” and some who are “pardo.” I have some ancestors that are indigenous to Louisiana, I have some who came to Louisiana from France via Quebec, and still others who came half a century later as a result of Le Grande Derangement. It seems to me that I have a claim to Cajun, Creole, and “Latino” identity regardless of my racial designation (which in the US is “black”).
So then, I’m going to recuse myself from you and Christophe’s hurling shit back and forth at one another and just suggest that you do yourself no favors by comparing yourself to Colonel Nathan Jessup and refusing a direct, and sincere call to dialogue and clarification.
Talking shit is something that comes easily to people on the internet. The thing is, we all do exist in real life, and it isn’t unlikely that we MAY VERY WELL run into each other if you have some sort of connection to Louisiana. Maybe when we do meet face to face, you will be more inclined to engage ideas, rather than to attempt to project some sort of fantasy image of a raging jarhead.
I’ll be seeing you around…I’m almost sure of it.
db
Mr. Gravot,
I wasn’t aware that there was some sort of “litigation” regarding the Latino issue. I don’t perceive it as foolishness although I do acknowledge that Christophe is taking the “Latino” paradigm and applying it to people of Louisiana who have been racialized as “black” and “white.” What I don’t get is what you and your folk have against that. Oh well, you’re obviously sort of hostile.
If the “multiple academic experts” you are talking about are faculty from Lafayette and Hammond though, I just have to chuckle. With the exception of Carl Brasseaux, no one gives a shit what any of those people are saying; your qualifier of “no one worth cultural or scholarly respect” is thus a little confusing to me considering that I know, personally, scholars from Yale, Oxford, and now Sussex University (where Christophe is working on his Master’s and where I am working on my PhD, and which is the 10th ranked Uni in England, the 53rd ranked Uni in Europe and the 76th ranked University on Earth) who are all very interested in hearing Christophe’s interpretations. I am wondering if you realize that there is no University in the state of Louisiana that ranks in the top 100 on Earth? Not Tulane, not Loyola and definitely not LSU.
In any event, you are apparently not here to engage any sort of reasonable dialogue and your “libelous” accusations are obviously not anything that I am interested in. I might suggest that if you were concerned about your good name, you refrain from hurling veiled threats. Although this is amusing in a school-yard sort of way.
You jarheads think you’re tough but without a gun, you lot are like snails with no shell. The last time I sparred with a Marine (I am a submission grappler), I gave him a choice of tapping out or going to sleep…not what I was expecting from an “instrument of death praying for war” but I guess boot camp is all about creating an illusion that you’re tough guys when the truth is that all you’ve really done is gone to fat camp for 9 weeks or so.
Anyway, like Christophe, I will probably be returning to Louisiana (probably with Christophe) at some point in the next year. Maybe, I will be fortunate enough to be with him when he and you “cross paths.” My, won’t that be interesting?
best,
db
Christophe,
Again, I’m not here to relitigate this non-issue. But I would like to clarify a few misconceptions: 1) I never attacked anyone. I, however, have been smeared as a racist, which I am not, and I will retaliate against such hostility; 2) I never said that being “white and Cajun” are what constitues being “a community elder.” There you go projecting again, approaching this situation, and many others from what I’ve heard, with your emotionally-charged identity issues well intact. Take your own advice and please seek psychotherapy; 3) I have studied at an actual world-renowned university outside of Louisiana. I have a master’s degree from Columbia. And, again, what are your academic credentials beyond that high school record that you’re so proud of? Haha
You know, I could have been an ally. From what I hear you have a lot of potential (or did) and could probably do some substantive work, if you’d only pull your head out of the clouds (and your ass), stop acting like you know everything already, start listening to and respecting others with differing opinions, and quit running in circles that are unbecoming someone who wants (and attempts to demand) the kind of respect that you obviously desire.
G
Let me revisit some points of yours:
1) You accuse me of ignoring community elders and their positions. You named them, Barry Ancelet, Carl Brasseaux, for starters. Very specifically, you stated “Basically, they’re a bunch of kids, wannabe activists who should have run this idea by cultural elders and experts, like Drs. Barry Ancelet or Carl Brasseaux, before trying to sell it to the larger community.” Is it ironic that both are white males, both are Cajun-identified?
If I presented all instances where you invoke the “elders” and “experts” then it’d require another blog entry specifically for this. Are you denying that you stated this too, now?
2) A piece of paper called a diploma is just that. Debt accumulation and a paper placated on the wall to prove that debt. I’m not interested in accolades, I’m interested in results. For this reason, you will see me teaching classes in Louisiana languages, so that more folks speak it, more folks see the world differently. Language is more than just an accessory, you know. It has more profound cognitive interactions than regurgitating “Frè-re Jac-ques, Frè-re Jac-ques, Dor-mez-vous? Dor-mez-vous?”. In addition to my numerous community engagements, I have also served as an interpreter for governmental delegations, in the court system in NYC. That’s language. My genealogy skills and research are well respected. For me, this matters more than the diplomas that mean so dear to you. I don’t even know where either of my diplomas are, and I don’t care. It doesn’t matter to me.
Congratulations on your Masters from Columbia. Is it in History, Linguistics, Sociology or Anthropology? I thought in Civics Education?
3) Darryl as well as myself have asked you specific questions in attempts to engage you in fruitful dialog. You are the one who have systematically refused dialog. You always revert to the same “I was a Marine” bully tactic, and revert to declaring folks fascists and so on.
4) If you see races, then you’re a racist. It’s as simple as that. If you believe in the principles of the U.S. economy, then you’re a capitalist. If you believe in the Roman Catholic dogma, then you’re a Catholic. If you believe in and work in science, then you’re a scientist. The adjective cannot be divorced from the noun as a distinct phenomenon.
It’s a pity that you’re so contradicting and belligerent.
Dialog with you, as is the case with everyone, would be nice.
I still have hope.
You’re engaged in character defamation, and I will not allow this to stand unchallenged. However, I’m now done here. I’ve said all that I need to say via this medium. I won’t waste anymore of my valuable time and energy in this forum. I’d prefer to handle this problem live and in-person when we cross paths in Louisiana.
See you then!
Darryl,
You don’t even know me, yet you verbally attacked me in this forum because I have a beef with Christophe. Why should I take you seriously? Why would I want to engage with you? If that’s how you behave right out of the gate, you’re obviously not worthy of my valuable time and energy.
Have a nice life!
G
P.S. I’M DONE HERE!
Mr. Gravot,
Nowhere did I attack you. I called you a jarhead, which is what you are. You were the one hurling veiled threats.
Regarding taking me seriously, all I can say is that I inserted sincere questions into what is obviously a personal enmity. I won’t engage any of that further. You and Christophe’s issues have nothing to do with ideas; as far as I can tell, it’s all personal. Whatever…we can’t all get along and that’s nothing new.
What I can tell you is that I also went to Columbia. I lived in New York City for six years. I found a lot of awesome things while there, including my wife. You know what I didn’t find much of there? Tough guys.
You have a nice life, too. I expect that sooner or later, we’ll cross paths and, again, at that point, you can decide if you want to have a conversation or whether you want to be a tough guy. Either way, I’m good.
best,
db
Darryl,
It’s always great to meet a fellow Columbia grad. I am a Cajun native of Acadia Parish, but definitely not some kind of weird cultural purist, as Christophe has attempted to label me. Before completing my master’s at Columbia, I studied Cajun and Creole culture under Drs. Ancelet, Brasseaux, Brassieur, and Clifton at UL Lafayette. And the only reason that I was embraced by that community of cultural scholars is because I had been a cultural activist prior to entering college as an adult and a veteran on the GI Bill. See, I’ve done my time; I’ve done good work. I’ve earned the respect of these scholars and activists not for being a know-it-all showhorse but for being a dedicated workhorse. I don’t have to prove myself. That’s the difference between Christophe and myself.
Now please know that my conflict is not with you, and so inserting yourself in this situation may not have been a wise move. I would enjoy exploring some of these ideas with you, but not in this context and not now. I am terribly busy, teaching and trying to get moved to New Orleans. Hopefully we will cross paths in the future and have a pleasant encounter. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about my inevitable meeting with Christophe and his little band of rabble-rousers; however, Christophe has the power to change that dynamic, as I am a fairly forgiving soul. For example, I did not create that racist alter-ego on Facebook that he accuses me of creating. He has no proof that I created it and he knows that I know this, because I didn’t create it! If he were to retract those statements, those defaming accusations, and erase said libel from this blog and elsewhere, I would be willing to look the other way just as I did after our last disagreement. But for some reason he’s holding on to what happened between us last year when he should let go, like I did. Hope that helps.
Best,
Gus
Mr. Gravot,
I didn’t graduate from Columbia undergrad. I started a post-grad there in Analysis and Design of Information Systems which, had it not been for 9/11, would have served as the first year in a Masters of Applied Science. Alas, that didn’t work out and I ended up moving back to New Orleans in 2003, where I went on to study history, which is what I do now. I studied at UNO with Michael Mizell-Nelson, Arnold Hirsch, and Molly Mitchell.
I will tell you this: it is always a shame when people let their egos get in the way of honest engagement. When Christophe and I first met, we locked horns pretty viciously. Eventually though, I think we realized that we are on the same team. We don’t agree on everything but we don’t have to. The thing is, there are so few of us Creoles/Cajuns in the academy, it just seems to me that we all stand to gain a lot more together by engaging one another in fellowship than with aggression.
All that said, I am not going to insert myself into this clash of personalities. I’d like to know your view on those questions I posed though. I am on Facebook. I am the one with the profile pic of The Punisher.
best,
db
Darryl,
You seem like a genuine guy. What are you now doing in history? I’m a history teacher btw.
Feel free to call me “Gus” and to add me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gusgravot
Gus
Gus,
I am writing my dissertation at the University of Sussex. I am writing on the emergence and diminishing of the Creole community/identity in New Orleans between 1896-1958. I taught history in New Orleans for 6 years at the high school level, and for two years at UNO and at Delgado Community College in New Orleans as adjunct faculty after Jindal dropped a thermonuclear device on the education budget.
In any event, I will be in touch.
Our people, Creoles/Cajuns, have withstood more than 200 years of marginalization. That common experience ought to bring us together, not set each other at one another’s throats. I’ll be in touch.
best,
db
PS: I noticed that we have quite a few friends in common on Facebook; I’ll say again: Louisiana is too small for people to ever expect anonymity.
Hi Darryl,
I couldn’t agree more, my friend! People who are working to preserve/rebuild Louisiana’s unique cultures should definitely work together. Unfortunately, however, just like in other aspects of life, some folks are committed to the collective while others are more interested in self-promotion.
Your work sounds interesting. Did you complete both your undergrad and master’s at UNO? You should also meet my fiancee, Dr. Dana David. She is a native of Cameron Parish and a fellow Cajun. She completed her PhD in Francophone Studies at UL Lafayette, where her dissertation focused on folk healing practices among Louisiana’s Francophone population.
Good luck with your doctoral studies!
Best,
Gus
Hi Christophe,
Thank you for taking the time to write such an extensive clarification of the differences between Creole and Cajun. My paternal grandmother’s parents were from St. Martinville, LA. She and the rest of the family always referred to themselves simply as Creoles, they ate gumbo and dirty rice, but didn’t speak a word of French except once when I heard my great-aunt reply to me with “oui” just to make me laugh. You can view my Broussard family tree here…http://taraummomar.wordpress.com/genealogy. Take care, Tara
I have been following this thread since it began.
Gus i don’t understand why there is such tension between you and Christophe.
Yes he did point out that he did not agree with some of your ideology of the past. That is only one small section of this blog post. Which is filled with a lot more information. As Darryl mentioned before. I think your anger stems from another person event. I am a LA Creole, and just like Darryl i have family lines that can trace their roots back to Nova Scotia. I have talked to countless other Creole’s who have this same background as well.
What i can not wrap my head around is how do maybe 2,000 or so “Cajuns” move into a area that is populated with 10′s of thousands of Creole’s and not absorb the main Culture of the area? Also, why when line Creole culture and Cajun cultures of regions side by side they virtually the same?
These are things about the division of creole and Cajun identity that bothers me.
I don’t care if Christophe agrees or disagrees with me. I do, however, care when people call me a racist in a blog, such as Christophe has done here. That’s libel. You wouldn’t like it, either! I don’t care if it is only a small portion of this longwinded blog post; it’s still an outrageous, unsubstantied accusation!
correction: unsubstantiated
Ok, why not answer my other questions?
Quite frankly, I don’t understand your “other questions.” But, as I’ve said before, I’m not here to relitigate the differences of opinion at the heart of my conflict with Christophe. That problem was said and done over a year ago, as far as I’m concerned. Besides, this has little or nothing to do with the slight differences between the Cajun and Creole cultures of Louisiana, of which I am a proponent of both. This conflict has more to do with this idea, which Christophe proposed and I rejected, that Louisiana Cajuns and Creoles are Latino, and that we should have identified as such during the 2010 census in order to receive monies that have been specifically allocated for actual Latino people. In my opinion, that’s an ethically-compromising positon for our culture(s), built on pseudo-intellectual arguments at best.
Look, all I want is for Christophe to retract this accusation of racism aimed at me before I’m forced to take action of some sort. That’s my only concern here…
Sorry if my questions were unclear.
This blog is about Cajun-Creole
Not the beef between Chris and Gus.
Thus so you being a cajunist i thought i would ask you to better help me understand the differences that no one can point out.
As far as being Latin, we are. Louisiana frankly isn’t Anglo and we are more than just French.
First, I only posted here after discovering Christophe’s attacks on my character.
Second, what is a cajunist? I’ve never decribed myself as such. I’m just a Cajun!
Third, there are many Latin cultures, but they don’t all identify as Latino.
Gus
There was no category for people of Latin origin.
and if you are of a Latin culture that would make you a Latino. Being Latino does not make you any less Creole, Cajun, American. Texan, Louisiana, Ect.
I consider my self a American Texan/Louisianan Latino/Latin woman.
I see you discovered my Identity, you must have had to do some searching..lol
OK, a few things…
Your Facebook link is posted with your avatar.
When asked, I identify as Cajun-American—not Latino, cajunist, or any derivation thereof. Again, what is a cajunist?
I think this movement to redefine Creoles and Cajuns as Latino is laughable at its best, unethical at its worst.
Now, again, I disagree with what you all think on this issue—end of story—and I’m not changing my mind.
But that doesn’t make me a racist! It just means I’m a free-thinking, hard-headed Cajun… Haha
Lastly, I really don’t fancy going round-and-round with y’all on this issue again this year.
We disagree—let’s just leave it at that, without resorting to name-calling or engaging in ad hominem attacks.
I, like Darryl, prefer to find common ground, issues that we can agree on, and work from there.
I’m a busy teacher, trying to finish the school year in New York and get moved to New Orleans.
I find this stuff interesting, but also consuming too much of my time and energy.
Again, I’d like to stop posting here. Thanks for understanding!
why ask a question if you want to stop posting.
Also i am not trying to convince you of anything just stating how i see thing. I was not aware of your activity last year, even if Christophe swears up and down that i interacted with you. My goal is not to pick a fight with you but to better understand your way of thinking. I’ll PM you my questions on facebook because i don’t understand how it is unethical and would really like a better explanation. Again i am just wanting take in other ways of thinking.
When i say Cajunist i mean someone who has a understanding of what Cajun Culture is and can help explain it. I myself is a Creolenist..lol Spelling is probably being that it’s one of my many made up words..
Forgive me i thought my fan page was connected to this acct and not my personal page.
Shannon and Darryl: he will not answer your questions, because he cannot and instead of saying: I don’t know the answers to your questions, he reverts to this “Christophe called me a racist” bit. An historian comes with solid arguments and documentation to back those arguments up.
Further, there is not one point in this post (longwinded or shortwinded) where I qualify you as a racist. I did, however, say that you employed “extremely bigoted overtones” in your ranting last year, which is true. I’ve the screenshots and e-mails to prove that. All I’ve to do is post them, and folks will see that clearly for themselves. I can gladly post them as an addendum to that section. Folks will find it highly entertaining this time around as they did last year.
What’s more is the common ground that you have Gus, with the rest of us, is that you eat all the same foods, observe the same folk holidays, have the same mannerisms, even look the same (last year folks were asking if you were “really white”) and none of that stuff originates in Acadie. Anyone who goes there or does research there knows this. Most of it came via the Caribbean, Mexico and West Africa.
We have more in common than you are prepared to acknowledge, and according to your reasoning from last year, this was solidly a racial division that you maintain exists.
Note that you’ve to keep reminding yourself and everyone that you’re Cajun. That’s fine. But if there were truly a real difference to be considered, you would not have to remind us nor yourself, it would be naturally recognized by everyone.
I’ve no personal beef with you, though.
I’ve no interest in your moral character.
You don’t make a bit of difference in my life.
Honestly, you do not.
First, you have accused me of creating that racist, sombrero-wearing alter-ego — and I did not! You have no proof, and that alone is a smear on my character. Unless you have proof, which can be substantiated, that’s defamation (I suggest you look up the legal definition of libel). And I will continue to have a beef with you until that libel is GONE! We disagree on a few issues, and that’s fine; that’s not my reason for being here, and why I feel no need to answer your many questions. I’m only here to clear my good name, not to re-engage in the same old, tired arguments from last year. We disagree — end of story. But, for the sake of satisfying your ego and the idea that I MUST answer your every question even when you refuse to comply with my simple requests…
I have always said that we have a lot in common, and that what constitiutes Louisiana Cajun and Creole is basically the same culture. The primary differences are urban and rural, not black and white. That said, I also acknowledge that some Cajuns and Creoles see these cultural paradigms through the lens of race. Our differences of opinion on this matter are: you’d prefer we ignore that reality, and I think it must be both acknowledged and dealt with in culturally sensitive ways. Yes, some Cajuns and Creoles have racist tendencies which drive their cultural pride — but I can assure you that I am not one of these! And if you’d taken the time to get to know me, as Darryl is now doing, you’d know this. Instead, you chose to attack my character because I criticized your ideas.
Frankly speaking, a major component of my anathema to you stems from some of your counterparts, namely Rocky McKeon, who I’ve had run-ins with in the past. His use of Louisiana French is just gross! I loathe the way he treats people who he perceives as insufficiently Cajun or Creole based on their lack of lingusitic knowledge which was mainly witheld from them. That’s what I mean when I say cultural fascism! It’s just ugly and destructive, dividing our people rather than bringing them together. Wouldn’t you agree? Now if I incorrectly lumped you in with him and others who behave that way, and that does not correctly describe your ideas on the intersection of culture and launguage, I do apologize. But as the old cliche goes: birds of a feather…
Moving on, I do choose to identify as Cajun — but what’s wrong with that? I don’t take issue with any of you identifying as Creole. And I don’t have to keep reminding myself of my Cajunness, as you claim; I’m totally secure in my cultural identity and feel no need to keep remaking it. Hell, I survived living in Manhattan and studying in the Ivy League with my cultural identity firmly intact! I would say that’s a testament to the sincere, genuine nature of our shared culture. Yes, there are some aspects of our culture that I find both beautiful and ugly, and I now have skills that I didn’t have before which allow me to “let go” of said ugliness. The only reason I’ve consistently labeled myself as “Cajun” on this blog is: 1) I’m proud to be Cajun; and 2) because of other labels like “cajunist” and “Latino” flying around with such ease. My Cajunness, however, has absolutely nothing to do with my “whiteness.” I’m Cajun because that’s the cultural identity that was handed down to me by my parents and grandparents, and I see no need to change it because you or anyone else wants to suddenly redefine our unique cultures in Louisiana. Now if you want to call yourself Latino, go for it — I really don’t care!
Also, this has nothing to do with Acadie. You’re totally misinterpreting my idea of what and who is Cajun. Unlike some Cajuns, I don’t see myself as Acadian. Sure, my mother was a Lejeune and we’ve traced our Acadian roots, but I’m also French, German, Irish, Native-American, etc.
In closing, I don’t recall ever writing anything racist or bigoted, unless you misinterpreted my words again. If you have something on me, post it. But you better have a link to a source, to proof. I know my writing and if I didn’t write something I’ll know it. Again, anyone who takes the time to get to know me knows I’m not a racist or a bigot; actually, quite the contrary. I’ve lost many so-called friends back home in Louisiana for being such an outspoken supporter of President Obama.
I hope that helps you all to better understand my positions. If we disagree on the Latino issue, that’s okay. Even folks who have common ideals and objectives won’t always see eye-to-eye. But I don’t like being labeled as a racist, especially when I’ve worked so hard to fight racism through my teaching and activism. That’s disappointing and, yes, it pisses me off!
Now, for the last time, this blog is consuming way too much of my time and energy, and I think this non-stop bickering is very unhealthy. Again, I just came here to clear my good name. I really, really, really don’t feel like talking about this over, and over, and over. It’s a bit of a useless endeavor, in my opinion. My fiancee, a fellow Cajun with a PhD in Francophone Studies, and I used to constantly over-intellectualize our culture, but we don’t do that very often anymore. We’ve moved on to what we consider more important matters. I’m more concerned with Louisiana’s political and economic problems than I am with its cultural dilemmas. That’s where my activism is now focused.
I would prefer to get along with everyone. I don’t like having enemies. If I have offended anyone, I apologize; and I can only hope that those who have offended me will reciprocate. As Rodney King said, “Can’t we all just get along?”
I am extending an olive branch here…
This is amazing. You’re reneging on all you fought hard for last year. Specifically on what a Cajun and a Creole are. Which is fine, but say so. Don’t act as if you’ve always stated this.
You accuse me of lots of things. But one of those things is of “holding on to the past.” (I keep thinking that this is what historians do: study the past. You should understand that clearly if you yourself are an historian of some kind)
But then you clarify that “a major component” of the abhorrence you’ve with me lies in what colleagues of mine have said and done, not me myself. And it is clear now that this partially guides your hurling on my blog.
So, in a hypocritical manner, you hurl at me for the same same things you yourself do.
Have you forgotten the things you stated in your closed-access facebook group? Have you forgotten how you deleted and blocked everyone who asked you sincere questions and/or who were facebook friends of mine, Rocky’s, Stephen’s? You refused to dialog then as you have done on this blog, up until this very last message.
The only reason you can offer some challenge to my allegations is because you have deleted the pages, therefore there is no link. But there are screenshots. You see, modern technology is a bit kooky.
Again, I’ve no particular disdain for you, don’t really care about you, your community service and on and on. This is an entry on a blog with largely historical content. And as such, the content is here to stay. I may or may not elect to write a follow-up to it, with more screenshots, but I will do this is my own time and place.
By the way, I know Dana and Mark well. I saw Mark last year during the Anthropological Association’s conference in NOLA where I and others were giving talks on Language Activism. And I’ve immense respect for both of them. No need to introduce me to them, I know them already.
If you care to “move on” as you keep reminding yourself, that’s fine. If you wish to continue blocking me on facebook (and my other friends), that’s fine too. If you wish to continue attacking my character rather than my arguments, that’s also fine. None of it matters to me. I’m indifferent to it all.
You’re 41 right? Folks would imagine that you’d be a bit more grounded emotionally than this.
It’s all good, Gus. Really. Do what you need to do to make yourself happy.
I’m sure no one reading my blog cares about you, knows you nor will ever meet you.
I extend an olive branch, and you shit on it! That’s fine.
I’m done here. Like I said, we’ll cross paths one day…
l inadvertently discovered your name and a reference to Facebook; subsequently, I gained personal reassurance of sanity!
I should explain that I am from Evangeline parish-with all its endemic implications!
Very early on, I began observing the strange socio/ethnic shift in the self representation of whites (I am legally “white” -Fr/Choctaw Alabama Creole) around 1970-71 at Ville Platte, but indoors, we were still”Creole”. Mardi gras-Afro/Indian Creole style would next disappear. Cajun and “Acadiana” had crept in and, as you have so well articulated, took over our food, language and historical identity. Notwithstanding, many of us-due to geographical and continued cultural isolation from TV 10/3, and the Anglophonic traditions didn’t nuy into the Cajunization coming out of the new self-styled Cajun capitol.
All of my life, I have listened in an attempt to understand what was happening with CODOFIL while feeling the betrayal, and seeing what amounted to a cultural coup d’Etat right under our noses. The distortion of La. history in the creation of a super identity for an ethnic group which had not contributed to Louisiana’s formative historical and cultural identity and the -almost religious-fanaticism in browbeating anyone who diasgreed in reciting this new cultural/ethnic mantra moved me to take a stand- whether or not-it would be well received. Along with a “Cajun” friend, I began a culinary book whose presentation was to deliberately return the old Louisiana Creole menu to its original label-CREOLE! In order to anchor my thetical claim, I thought it wise to illustrate the origins of our foodways by using their published Creole names as title recipes. The dictionnaire at the back of the book would indicate a Choctaw, African and any other non-Acadian origin. The book also features a short essay explaining our Louisiana Creole cultural legacy, presenting pertinent facts in contrast to the fabricated, mass-marketed “Cajun” image. The book, beautifully illustrated in color photography presents deliberately designed Creole era type food settings at my Washington, La. Creole plantation homesite. The effect would not only lead to the unexpected enthusiastic reception of the book, but also to the vocalized acceptance of its message-we are Creoles not Cajuns!
Another unexpected result was to discover in research that my “Cajun” photographer was both my cousin and- much to he and his family’s surprise-a Creole!
Finding out about you, and reading the truth you present, has been so comforting, as it is inspiring and emcouraging! You see, I started researching and writing a more comprehensive work exposing the Cajunist movement and its dangerous agenda, all in an effort to at least provide our people and the public with another voice and facts with which to hold their honest ethno/cultural ground.
I would certainly like to refer to your website and your writings as part of my arsenal of reference authorities from which interested researchers can benefit. I am also available on facebook. Iam a veteran teacher of French, Art History and Speech Comm. and have traved extensively. It is in part, this international travel that helped open my eyes to a non-Acadian origin of both our historic language and cuisine.
I would welcome the honor of making your acquaintance. My tele # is: 337.418.1506
I have recently succeeded in encouraging our local state representative to sponsor a legislative proclamation honoring the forgotten Creole peoples of Louisiana- in Black and White- to be set for July 14, Bastille Day- and the beginning date-although stalled by Napoleon-of the end of African slavery in the New World.
And, the leadership of the local radio station-KVPI- where I work on Saturdays has now become aware of this cultural hijacking and is lending its support in promoting a revival of promoting a ” Creole ” voice of the community once again. Thanks to well-informed efforts such as ypurs, we may gain increasing traction in this new revolution/renaissance of La.’s original culture and heritage.
Thankyou, Christophe; I look forward to meetimg you soon.
Cajuns are French, Creoles are French. Someone as smart as you should see that each has just as much a right to the language as the other. The reason they became more similar was so they could actually communicate. And Cajuns also agree that codofil brutilized Louisiana french. Most Cajuns thought the french taught in schools was total bs. So what’s the problem? Just because ONE Cajun had an agenda doesnt mean we were all in favor of learning france french in school. I would know i was there.
I realize that Cajun food is actually Creole food. But Cajun people ARE Cajun people. This “dangerous movement” you talk about is ridiculous. What’s dangerous about a group of people acknowledging that their ancestors got here differently than other Americans did? Cajuns are a group of people who got to south la differently than Creoles and other whites or Spanish did. If i cant acknowledge that, then you arent allowed to acknowledge being Creole. Sorry but i love my heritage as much as you live yours even if mine DID become neighbors and learn how to cook from yours. Let’s not demonize a group of refugees just because tourism for some reason buys “cajun” recipe books. They came from very far away to a new world against their will and did the best they could and i always loved that the Creoles helped them. Now yall wanna hate on them when they were just trying to survive and all because you are jealous that the marketers love the cajun word?? Grow up
I admire your passion for eliminating the use of the word “cajun”, probably because you’re so butthurt that the tourist industry likes to call Creole things Cajun, but that doesnt change the fact that Cajuns ARE a distinct group of people who are sometimes mixed with Creoles in more ways than one.
I’m upset that people call Tobasco sauce and Popeyes chicken Cajun food but I’m not insane enough to accuse the Mcklhinney (i know i butchered that) family of never existing.
No I don’t agree. It’s not about race. You can be a black cajun and not be creole. Sorry, but I’m really big into genealogy. If my family tree consists of Cajuns and didn’t intermarry with Creoles that makes me Cajun, not both. I understand they overlapped and blended cultures but the people who came here while being deported from Canada are Cajuns. Nothing racist about it. Maybe the pro-latino-cajunsandcreolesarethesame people have their definitions a little screwed up? And sorry but we will never associate ourselves with Latin anything. I didn’t see anything wrong with the dude who is against being called a louisiana latino. If I research my family and see that they were all French Canadian, I will never consider myself even remotely Latino or creole because that is insanely stupid, cher. But blacks can be cajuns too without being creole. To me, assuming every black cajun is a creole is racist.
Ok i will reply to my own comment to note that this site didnt show me yalls comments until after i posted for some reason. But…. Personally as a Cajun, i am kind of offended that there are so many Creoles referring to proud Cajuns as cajunists and putting even the word Cajun in quotation marks. Excuse me but we have every right to be proud of where our grandparents came from. I’m sure you are irritated when people refer to certain Creole FOOD items as being Cajun, but just because tourist traps sell out by using the word- Cajun- doesnt mean that MY ancestors didnt exist!!! Are you insane? I love my grandparents and great grandparents and if they came to LA from Nova Scotia and are referred to as Acadians/Cajuns because if it who are YOU to take that away from me? Dont act as if Creoles are the only people with a heritage. And frankly most Cajuns ARE also Creole because of all the mixing that went on. When a “creole” puts Cajun in quotations repeatedly and acts as thought our great grandparents were imaginary it starts to look racist. I’d hope after 250 years of getting along and mixing that we wouldn’t choose NOW to be a good time to hate each other. And if you are so concerned about preserving your culture, stay creole/cajun because the minute stupid americans start seeing us as latino is the second we lose our culture and are seen as a bunch of J LOs. Is that really what you people want??? Ps. I am cajun, my grandparents’ first language was real Cajun French, and never have i once heard of the word Americains. Wtf are you even living in the same universe as Acadians?