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Post by duplessisdacreole on Mar 15, 2009 11:54:54 GMT -5
I just want to clear up this myth-that all Creoles are of Europe, African and Native American backgrounds or are just people who came from "freed slaves." That is a myth. The very first Creoles(outside of the French male settlers) were the Choctaw and French mixed Creoles. There are more of these Creoles in Plaquemines Parish, La (south of New Orleans) than any other ethnic group. France didn't even have a stake in the New World until it got New Orleans. The first Creoles to populate the state-were sub-New Orleans Creoles. These people live in rural out of the way areas-and inter-marry with each other. Some of the younger kids have started with black and white mates but most of the families only marry to other known families in the area. They are mislabeled as Mulatto , which means part African and part European but that is not an accurate description. Many blacks write about the Louisiana Mulattoes who opted out of going to school during segregation-because they didn't want to be in school with the blacks. This can be considered true, to an extent-many of these Creoles were not counted on any census and were treated hostile by blacks and non-Creole/Cajun whites. These people were simply told that their identities were invalid after the Civil War. They are descendants of the original Choctaw fishing tribes and French Creole settlers along the Louisiana Gulf coast and Mississippi delta -who evolved in isolated communities. Because many Creole activist and agendas appear to come from blacks-who need to minimize Creoles into a sub-African American group or whites(who are schooled in these out dated and racist anthropology field that we have in the U.S.)-who want to say that we are all dead or "Africans in Louisiana"-these people do not identify with the more main stream Creole norm but French-Indian Creoles are indeed the very first Louisiana Creoles and they aren't dead and 98% of them have pure French-Indian Louisiana Creole blood with not even an interruption of an outside ethnic group or race-for about 300 years. I also know white Creoles-who are as white as they come. Every Creole family didn't mix-and this is mostly due to the rural isolation the La. swamp and bayou lands and then a hostility from non-Louisiana whites and newly trained Protestant blacks, who wanted to show whites that they are good at observing the status-quo-did create this "inter-marrying" behavior among many French-Indian and white Creoles. These Creoles have so many numbers-that Louisiana Road Home and FEMA applications, after Hurricane Katrina hit-under former Cajun Gov. Kathleen Babineaux-Blanco-she made a point of adding a special race/ethnic group-so that they could answer in an accurate manner. These rural French-Indian Creoles can swing any Louisiana state election-and for a while we had Creole Gov.'s and Creole Mayors-ONLY!
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Post by chockopie nation on Apr 13, 2009 15:55:42 GMT -5
They'll be no decention amongst da ranks! Te' nag pa bon.
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Post by chockopie nation on Apr 13, 2009 16:12:00 GMT -5
If no Afrikan blood line, that's a Raging Cajun!
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Post by Angele on May 10, 2010 11:27:07 GMT -5
I know this is an old topic, but I just discovered this site (which is awesome) and felt the need to respond. The word Creole has a very complicated meaning and means different things in different places. The original meaning is simple, it meant anyone who was born in a colony i.e "Native Born". These people's culture would be different because it would include new influences that developed in the colony which resulted from a mixing of different cultures. Thus Creole food in New Orleans consists of cooking influences primarily from Africa and France. Over the years the meaning became complicated. In New Orleans however, slaves born in the colony were considered Creole as opposed to those born in Africa or those born in the Anglo-Saxon South. Creole also includes those of pure French or Spanish descent as long as they were born in the javascript:add("%20:)") :)Colony. In New Orleans, Creole with African ancestry were usually distinguished from European Creoles by the use of the term"Creoles of Color". In southwest Louisiana, it seems to me that Creoles must have African ancestry to be considered Creole which those of French ancestry are considered a Cajun. Creole is a very complicated tern depending on where it is being used and as a result, clarification of its meaning depending on what part of the world you are in is necessary. Finally, I would like to respond to Duplesisdacreole's assertion that American Anthropology is racist. I am an archaeologist which, is part of one of the four sub-fields of Anthropology. Anthropology is the most non-racist study that I know of. It teaches that all cultures, no matter how strange or "backwards" they seem to the layman, are just as valid as their own culture. I believe that everyone should be required to take an intro to Anthropology class before they graduate from high school. I was raised in New Orleans and like many people here and elsewhere, I was relatively close minded. My family were not hardcore racists but I did hear the N word more than once. Anthropology was the best thing that happened to my mind. It taught be to respect everyone regardless of race, sex, etc. Duplessisdacreole, I would be interested in knowing what you find racist about Anthropology.
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Post by thingyyg on May 10, 2010 15:12:05 GMT -5
These Issues seem to be creating more confusion when it comes to the Definition of Just what is a "Creole"?? By Definition a Creole was Classified as someone Who was native Born in the New World of Slave Parents and or Those that were neither Black, White nor Native American American but a mix of all of the Above.. With these meanings We can conclude that Creoles Come in All Colors...The Europeans also adopted this term to refer to their offsprings who were also born in the New World as well... You Must remember that although Creole as a Culture begins in the New World ,documents show that Creoles as a People date back as far as the Nubian Cultures and the Moorish conquest of Southern Europe mainly Spain...... I guess anyone Who resides in Louisiana can call themselves Creoles but the facts say otherwise..The bottom line is that there is no doubt that the term Creole even today appears to be a confusing term but If You refer to the meanings that have been well documented it appears that the Creole is someone of Mixed Race Heritage Black and White...and it doesn't matter who came here first...Creoles Existed in the New World before there was a Louisiana
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Post by angele on May 11, 2010 13:24:54 GMT -5
For a well written definition of the different ways Creole has been used, see Wikipedia. Specifically Creoles in New Orleans were considered to be those who were born in the Colony whether they were of African, French or Spanish descent. A mixture of the different ethnic groups was not necessary. You could be a full blooded African Creole if you were born in New Orleans or you could be pure blooded Frenchman or Spaniard. Many Creoles are of course of mixed African and European descent and/or mixed Native American descent. These are the guidelines used by Historians when discussing the Creole culture of the city.
Anyone born in Louisiana cannot be called a Creole. In New Orleans specifically, a Creole is someone descended from those who were native born in the colony. Those who came to Louisiana after the Louisiana Purchase (1803) to settle were considered Americans and were usually of Anglo-Saxon descent and therefore did not have the Creole culture.
As the use of the word Creole is very dependent on the region where the word is used, the definition of a Creole Nubian means something different than a New Orleans Creole (African, European or a mix of these and Native American) or a southwest Louisiana Creole (Mixture of African and French).
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Post by thingyyg on May 11, 2010 16:10:52 GMT -5
::)To say that anyone born in New Orleans after 1803 is not a "Creole" seems a bit far fetched..At one specific time Louisiana was called the Creole State specifically New Orleans... If Your ancestors are descendants of the Original Creole People prior to 1803 then obviously You ,as their off springs, are Creole as well....Also during the Haitian Revolution thousands of Free people of Color better known as Creoles, who shared the same Culture and Language as the Louisiana Creoles migrated to New Orleans .. Many Creoles from the Caribbean Islands including Cuba also migrated to Louisiana and brought their Creole Culture with Them..Many Slaves in Bondage also lived a Creole Culture ..Creoles are World wide and Louisiana is not the only place in the World where Creoles exist..Many came to the New World with the Explorers . So to say that Creoles didn't exist after the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 is far fetched indeed..If A Creole marries someone not of Creole Heritage does not Mean that He or She is not longer a Creole ... Louisiana has the most diverse American Population and to say that one is not Creole because of an Anglo, Creole, Cajun, African and Native ,American mix just to name a few is not a Creole is incorrect..That's what makes one Creole "Our diversity"
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Post by angele on May 17, 2010 17:41:36 GMT -5
thingyy G
I recommend that you read these posts a little more carefully. I did not say that "anyone born in New Orleans after 1803 is not a Creole". I said that because in New Orleans specifically, since Creole is generally understood by Historians of New Orleans to refer to those born in the colony of New Orleans (and of course their descendants by extension). Anglo-Saxons from the American states that came to New Orleans in 1803, when it became a part of the U.S. are not considered to be Creoles (why? because they are not of the offspring of any of the colonists). Of course, if an Anglo-Saxon produced offspring with a NEW ORLEANS CREOLE, the offspring would be considered to have Creole descent. Just because Creoles exist worldwide, it doesn't mean the term is defined the same everywhere, it is not. In New Orleans, mixed heritage is not the criteria for being a Creole. A New Orleans Creole can be all black, all white, Indian and white, black and Indian etc. The only requirement is that you are a descendant of the those who were Native born in the colony. This is different than the term is used elsewhere I realize but, that is how it is used by Historians of New Orleans. It is also interesting to note that African slaves born in the States that were part of the Union pre 1803, and brought to New Orleans, were not considered to be Creole.
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Post by thingyyg on May 18, 2010 0:10:55 GMT -5
Wrong,Wrong,wrong...I don't know what Historians You are referring to but You must be referring to those ancient Historians that were raised with a slave master mentality and chose who and what they wanted to be called Creole...I'm sure That If You refer to the Legitimate Definition of just what is a Creole You'll see that It does not even come close to what You are saying
...Although We ,as a mixed Race People,are, what You might say of the African Race ..Our Great Grand Parents Were also European..."the Word Creole Meant someone of African, Native American, White ( Mixed Race parents) "Originally" and the word has been around long before there was a Louisiana..I'm telling You that many people not just Anglo Saxons came and settled in Louisiana and not all came over on Slave ships. Many Brought their Creole Culture with them... Creoles are throughout the New World ..So what You are saying is bogus..
Yes It's in Your text...You might want to take another look at it........
Quote........"Anyone born in Louisiana cannot be called a Creole"...Those who came to Louisiana after the Louisiana Purchase (1803) to settle were considered Americans and were usually of Anglo-Saxon descent and therefore did not have the Creole culture."
....For Your information "Creole" is a Culture and not a specific Race of People...Nobody gave exclusive bragging rights to Creoles of Color only,although the definition infers Mixed Race Heritage and the first Born African Slaves.. It also Culturally speaking ,means that Creoles have Cultural ties to one another and whether they came here as non Creoles or If they are Oceans apart , We are all the Same People sharing the same Culture..Our Language is French Based but it is Creole not French..Our Food , Our History, Our Traditions are very similar... so stop trying to deny Us Our Right to Claim Our Heritage...
As a Anthropologist You have a lot to learn
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Post by Kahlil Crawford on Mar 19, 2011 11:47:48 GMT -5
For a well written definition of the different ways Creole has been used, see Wikipedia. Specifically Creoles in New Orleans were considered to be those who were born in the Colony whether they were of African, French or Spanish descent. A mixture of the different ethnic groups was not necessary. You could be a full blooded African Creole if you were born in New Orleans or you could be pure blooded Frenchman or Spaniard. Many Creoles are of course of mixed African and European descent and/or mixed Native American descent. These are the guidelines used by Historians when discussing the Creole culture of the city. Anyone born in Louisiana cannot be called a Creole. In New Orleans specifically, a Creole is someone descended from those who were native born in the colony. Those who came to Louisiana after the Louisiana Purchase (1803) to settle were considered Americans and were usually of Anglo-Saxon descent and therefore did not have the Creole culture. As the use of the word Creole is very dependent on the region where the word is used, the definition of a Creole Nubian means something different than a New Orleans Creole (African, European or a mix of these and Native American) or a southwest Louisiana Creole (Mixture of African and French).
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Post by 12ne96 on Mar 20, 2011 15:12:21 GMT -5
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am a Creole and I am not from Louisiana. I am from Mobile, Alabama which was the original capital for the French colonies. As a matter of fact we still have the original colony of creoles that reside in a town outside of Mobile called Creola, Alabama. I have read all of the statements to date and am somewhat disappointed that we do not know our own people and that we would disgrace each other. Creole is the created race. It is the race created from African, Native American, French and Spanish decent. Whether you have African blood or not, you still have Native American blood which makes you a non-white....word it however you like. The mentality of the 17 and 1800 were so flawed that anyone who relied on that type of reasoning has to be of the most uneducated and closed minded of persons. No one race or backwoods, inbred Klan can claim the heritage that belongs to all Creoles. We must embrace our heritage as a whole. I love the idea of the Creole flag. I have been looking for it for sometime now. I will display it proudly in my home, car, and work place. No matter where you are if you are a Creole and I see you display this flag, I will stop to render assistance, and fellowship.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2014 23:05:49 GMT -5
Ladies and Gentlemen. I am a Creole and I am not from Louisiana. I am from Mobile, Alabama which was the original capital for the French colonies. As a matter of fact we still have the original colony of creoles that reside in a town outside of Mobile called Creola, Alabama. I have read all of the statements to date and am somewhat disappointed that we do not know our own people and that we would disgrace each other. Creole is the created race. It is the race created from African, Native American, French and Spanish decent. Whether you have African blood or not, you still have Native American blood which makes you a non-white....word it however you like. The mentality of the 17 and 1800 were so flawed that anyone who relied on that type of reasoning has to be of the most uneducated and closed minded of persons. No one race or backwoods, inbred Klan can claim the heritage that belongs to all Creoles. We must embrace our heritage as a whole. I love the idea of the Creole flag. I have been looking for it for sometime now. I will display it proudly in my home, car, and work place. No matter where you are if you are a Creole and I see you display this flag, I will stop to render assistance, and fellowship. Ay.Min
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