Date of Award
8-26-2013
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Heritage Studies, Ph.D.
First Advisor
Brady Banta
Committee Members
Deborah Chappel Traylor; Ruth Hawkins
Abstract
"HONEY, WE'S ALL CREOLES": EXPLORING SOUTH LOUISIANA'S CREOLE IDENTITY, CULTURE, AND HERITAGE South Louisiana boasts a cultural mélange that sets it apart from the rest of the United States. Largely due to the tourism industry, many associate the region with Cajun culture; fewer realize that Creoles inhabited the region before the Cajuns arrived and still continue to play an important role in the area's cultural landscape today. The definition of Creole changed over time as Louisiana's native-born population either claimed or rejected their European or African ancestry. Although the debate over "true" Creole identity continues, throughout the prairies of South Louisiana, the term typically refers to French-speaking individuals of varying skin tones and diverse ancestral roots who share a similar culture and heritage. For many Creoles, three important cultural elements distinguish them from other ethnic groups: their foodways, oral tradition, and music. Despite outside pressure to fully assimilate into mainstream American culture, Creoles take pride in the fact that they still prepare certain dishes such as chicken fricassée and crawfish étouffée, speak a unique type of Creole French found only in certain parts of South Louisiana, and play a style of accordion and rubboard-driven music commonly known as "Zydeco" today. Although some cultural elements have been lost or adapted over time, recent years have seen a renewed interest in not only preserving but also presenting South Louisiana's rich Creole heritage. Through a variety of venues such as museum exhibits and cultural attractions, educational programs and workshops, as well as food and music festivals, Creoles are celebrating their culture and sharing it with others all around the world.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Istre, Elista, ""Honey, We's All Creoles": Exploring South Louisiana's Creole Identity, Culture, and Heritage" (2013). Student Theses and Dissertations. 809.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/809
