Why Are In Society, Creoles Are Mixed People But Throughout Time In Louisiana They Were French/spanish Whites?

LexDiamo on Sun, 21st Feb 2010 11:02 pm 



It’s the same as in other former French and Spanish colonies. Originally, Créole comes from the verb “to raise” and whites who were raised in the colonies and not Spain or France were reffered to as Créoles. Initially, they held a distinct euro-influenced culture as opposed to the native americans and african slaves, who kept traditions from their homelands. Over time, however, the european, african, and native american traditions, as well as bloodlines began to mix, with africans becoming less african, native americans becoming less native american, and whites becoming less european. A new ethnic identity, the Créole identity, developed, and although there were still separations according to colour and class, there was still a “partagance” or sharing of traditions, and before long everyone, both coloured and white shared a similar culture. they told the same jokes, had the same expressions, and spoke the same language. That’s why today, the label Créole is no longer restricted to the white community.

maxiumus on Sun, 21st Feb 2010 11:57 pm 



I think it could be related to the ascendency of blacks in America. Look up the meaning of “black dutch” and see how that term was used. It is more acceptable or even desireable to be black than ever.

maxiumus on Mon, 22nd Feb 2010 3:00 am 



I think that fact that you used the term “black creoles” may help you to answer your own question. People accept an idea and go with it – on some level, perhaps you have, too.
However, like being Hispanic or American, there is race and there is culture. Creole is one of those words that can cover either or both.
Many, if not most, mixed-race black people from that area are also of French/Spanish heritage, but historically, American culture recognized a single ethnic identity for most black people. That is another idea that was accepted and people ran with it, and I think that is the source of confusion that prompted your question.
My mother, a Louisianian, considers herself Creole. Even though she is blonde with white skin, she is aware of negligible African ancestry. People her age lived under the “one drop rule” so in spite of her appearance, she identified herself as “black,” at least during my childhood, which took place on the East Coast where there was not much concept of Creole, so you were generally black or white.
On the West Coast, where my mother has retired, she is free to identify herself based on her appearance. The complications you describe are not intimately familiar to most Americans. So, once New Orleans became a tourist destination, I think the concept of Creole was mass marketed as something American yet exotic, and free of its ungracious racial baggage.

monkey's uncle on Mon, 22nd Feb 2010 7:53 am 



My dad’s family is from New Orleans but I’m no expert on this (I live in Maryland) but here’s a link about it

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