Creole FAQ-1
Today, I’m answering some frequently asked questions about Creole. Some may seem like common sense, but others maybe not so much. So, wasting no time, let’s get to it.
Does everyone in Louisiana or all Creoles speak French?
Now ask yourself, how often does “all” apply to anything. The answer to this question is no. Not all people who live in Louisiana nor all Creole people speak French. It is estimated that approximately 6% – 10% of native Louisianans speak French, Cajun French, or Creole French (and yes, there is a difference between these languages) as a first or second language. These numbers are significantly lower than in previous years and are showing further decline. One reason the language is not as popular as it used to be is due to a mandate in the early 1900s that all residents of Louisiana learn to speak English. (For those who may have missed it, I did a previous blog of the differences between French, Cajun French, and Creole French. The post can be found on my blog page.)
Are all Creoles Roman Catholics?
Again, the “all” rule applies here. While a great majority of people of Creole heritage are Catholic (largely due to French and Spanish heritage), it is not all. As with most cultures, Creole people are diverse in their religions. Some are Protestant (e.g., Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Pentecostal, etc.) while others practice religions (e.g., Eastern Orthodox, Orthodox Catholic. Serbian Orthodox, etc.) which are very similar to Roman Catholicism. There are Creoles who are Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic, and non-denominal. Still others practice shamanistic (a religion characterized by belief in an unseen world of gods, demons, and ancestral spirits responsive only to a priest or priestess who uses magic for the purpose of curing the sick, divining the hidden, and controlling events) and animalistic (a belief that every natural thing in the universe has a soul) religions such as voodoo. Additionally, there are those who have no religious preferences or are agnostic or atheist.
Are Free People of Color and Creole people the same thing?
Nope. This answer is rather extensive, and I intend to dedicate an entire blog to this topic. But for now, the simple answer is no they are not the same. Free People of Color usually was a term to describe a person who shared both a European and African heritage, but not all Creoles have an African ancestry. Additionally, the term Free People of Color was used to make a distinction between “mixed raced” people and African slaves who had been freed. They were a separate class and held a special role in society. However, this changed following the American Civil War and created much controversy during the war.
By describing oneself as Creole a way of denying African heritage?
This question is tricky only because for some people that may be the case. However, for most, acknowledging their Creole heritage is to embrace all of their ethnicity and diverse roots. It is an acceptance and non-limitation of belonging or being a part of multiple groups. However, there is no denying that some people believe identifying as Creole is an act of denial. The following is an old saying regarding someone describing his/her race as Creole: “Saying one is Creole is a way of saying one is not Black.” For years, this has been an issue of much-heated debate and controversy. Why should a person have to dissect his/her heritage and pick just one? Shouldn’t a person have the right to decide how they want to describe himself/herself? Suppose a person has a father who is half Asian and half Native American and a mother who is half Cuban and half African. How should that person describe himself/herself? According to the “one drop” rule, a person with this heritage would have to describe himself/herself as Black. This would totally ignore the father’s ethnic heritage. Yet, Creoles find themselves in this (or a similar) position of having to choose a narrow classification instead of being allowed to embrace his/her entire background.
What are the Native American tribes of Louisiana that many Creoles can trace their genealogy?
Atakapa, Caddo, Choctaw, Chitimacha, Houma, Natchez, and Tunica. (These are not all-inclusive.)
What Acadian groups settled in Louisiana that many Creoles can trace their genealogy?
Novia Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. (These are not all-inclusive.)
What areas of France settled in Louisiana that many Creoles can trace their genealogy?
Aquitaine, Brittany, Île-de-France, Normandy, and Poitou, Rouen. (These are not all-inclusive.)
Where does the Creole Hispanic ancestry come from?
Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Spain, and Trinidad. (These are not all-inclusive.)
Where doe the African ancestry come from?
Angola, Bight of Biafra, Bissau, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Gold Coast, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal. (These are not all-inclusive.)
Don’t forget to visit Creole Bayou again. New posts are made on Wednesdays. Copies of my books are available in paper, ebook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.
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