Political and topical news and commentary
How far back have you researched?
Published on April 20, 2007 By adnauseam In Blogging
I want to ask Joeusers whether they have researched their family trees and where their families originally come from. I have seen from watching TV, that, in the US, there seem to be Norwegian influences, Italian influences, Irish backgrounds, Polish backgrounds and so on. Watched a programme the other day on a cooking channel(!) about Czechs and their food. Many Czech Americans have brought their cultures with them and they have endured. So it is with other groups who immigrated in the 1800's and later. Have you "Americanized" completely or do you keep old cultures and traditions alive? It would make interesting reading.

Many people ask me whether I'm British or South African. I guess I'm both but if I were to be honest I'm South African. I was born in Scotland but at age 2 left for Africa. I returned to Britain on occasion but I don't know Scotland at all. I grew up in Zambia and South Africa and there is no doubt where my loyalties lie. I am proud to be a South African and love my country. I know I'm not split between two countries and it emerges when I see our flag, hear about our rugby or cricket teams , dream about the taste of a South African Braai (barbeque), and converse in three of our languages. I am moved by the sight of a South African Airways plane and by the influence that Nelson Mandela has had on our country and the World.

Do you feel 100% American but still cling to your heritage? I just think it makes a different type of topic for Joeusers to expand on.

Comments (Page 1)
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on Apr 20, 2007
I'm 100% American. My grandparents were all born in America but most of their parents came from Europe. My dad had a Dutch great grandfather who came over and married a Souix Indian. The others came mostly from Wales and Ireland.

My maternal grandmother made a lot of Irish foods and used Irish terms but I can't say my family has kept any heritage alive past English gap smiles, blonde hair and blue eyes.
on Apr 20, 2007
I'm American by Naturalization, meaning I wasn't born here, however I'm a citizen. I was born in Jamaica, West Indies. I've never researched my heritage but we're a mixture of mostly English and Jamaican roots with a bit of Asian and Maroons thrown in! My kids were born here, they are mixture of Latin and Scottish from their dad's side!
on Apr 20, 2007
I'm eighteen hundred percent American. My family came over from Wales in the mid 1800s . . . and we're just good old-fashioned whitebread Americanos.
on Apr 20, 2007
All american. My ancestors came from mostly France and Germany, but you name it, one was probably from there.
on Apr 20, 2007




Mostly Irish and etcetera here. My wife's heritage is Greek so that makes our kids....heh, that make's 'em, as SC says, good old-fashioned whitebread Americanos!



on Apr 20, 2007
I'm American, however my heritage is primarily Italian with some other stuff thrown in.

~Zoo
on Apr 20, 2007
I am 2nd generation AMERICAN, PROUD AMERICAN, American through and through..

Mom and dad were born in Turkey, go back to 1492 and we were from Spain, we were asked to leave with nothing but what we could carry by the most loving Christians during the inquisition, They much like the Nazis did not like Jews and blamed many of there social woes on the Jews. Yes I am comparing what the Catholics did to the Jews to what the Nazis did, without the killing, of 6 million.
on Apr 20, 2007
My dad was Mexican-American. My mom is of German descent. My dad spoke Spanish but none of us kids do. As far as keeping traditions alive, we had pinatas at holidays and I got a big check from my Abuelo for my quincinera though I didn't get the party and fancy dress. As for the Germaness, we all drink beer and not just in October. lol

Oh and there's a big Czech population south of us in West, Texas. They have a big czech festival called West Fest and all I know is that the kolaches are yummy.
on Apr 20, 2007
I have Mexican and Spanish roots.

My grandmother's and grandfather's families both came here during the Mexican Revolution (around 1916). My grandfather was born in Mexico and my grandmother was born in Denver (several years after her family settled here). There is a story that has been passed on in our family about one of my grandmother's uncles being wanted by Pancho Villa and his men. It's pretty interesting to us.

I am very proud of my heritage, and yes, I still cling to many Mexican traditions. But I guess that is pretty easy to do when you live on the border.
on Apr 20, 2007
American.

Genetically, 25% Hungarian, 25% Slovak, 12.5% Irish, 37.5% something (English/Irish/whatever).
on Apr 20, 2007
I'm German-Polish on my father's side (my grandparents were the first to marry outside of their ethnic group) and basic Scotch-Irish on my mother's. I identify most strongly with the German and the Irish, although probably mostly from unconscious cultural and familial bias.

I'm struck by terms like "white-bread" American...Shouldn't it really be down-home, forever and ever, red-bread American? And isn't it interesting how most of solely European (Western?) origin felt a need to proclaim their "Americanness" while others are still celebrating their heritages? I suppose its just evidence of the imperfection of our "melting-pot" metaphor. Does the pot taste like a little bit of everything? Or a whole lot of nothing?
on Apr 20, 2007
And isn't it interesting how most of solely European (Western?) origin felt a need to proclaim their "Americanness" while others are still celebrating their heritages?


I found it interesting as well. Glad someone else noticed it!

I personally identify most closely with my french dna descended through Canada through my grandfather's father. My grandmother's mother came over straight from Germany. My father's mother's family is through New England as far back as I've traced, which isn't all that far. There's a gap where my mother's father should be as she was adopted and we have no information for her paternal side.

However, genetics in this manner is very similar to astrology.
on Apr 20, 2007
I'm struck by terms like "white-bread" American...Shouldn't it really be down-home, forever and ever, red-bread American? And isn't it interesting how most of solely European (Western?) origin felt a need to proclaim their "Americanness" while others are still celebrating their heritages? I suppose its just evidence of the imperfection of our "melting-pot" metaphor. Does the pot taste like a little bit of everything? Or a whole lot of nothing?


Interesting!


Oh and lest I forget, I'm denying my hubby is Jamaican heritage, which he proclaims quite proudly too!lol! And he tells me not just Latin, Cuban to be specific!
Although he speaks poquito Spanish, since his mom didn't teach it to them. Long story, she left Cuba at the time when Fidel Castro was rampant with killing and claiming lands and she lost a lot of her brothers and sisters, only six of thme made it out alive....when she came to Jamaica for refuge. She doesn't like to talk about it much so they didnt know all the gory details. Anyway, it's interesting to know about one's heritage!
on Apr 20, 2007
Oh btw way Ad, do you guys have to say what race you are on documents over there in South Africa? Just curious, since we do on everything we do here in the US. In Jamaica, nope, and that's quite a melting pot with people from all over the world living there!   
on Apr 20, 2007
I'm struck by terms like "white-bread" American...Shouldn't it really be down-home, forever and ever, red-bread American? And isn't it interesting how most of solely European (Western?) origin felt a need to proclaim their "Americanness" while others are still celebrating their heritages? I suppose its just evidence of the imperfection of our "melting-pot" metaphor. Does the pot taste like a little bit of everything? Or a whole lot of nothing?


Geez. Lawyers everywhere...
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