Louisiana Creoles: Cultural Recovery and Mixed-Race Native American Identity [Hardcover]

Andrew J. Jolivette (Author), Paula Gunn Allen (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 073911896X | ISBN-13: 978-0739118962 | Publication Date: December 28, 2006

Louisiana Creoles examines the recent efforts of the Louisiana Creole Heritage Center to document and preserve the distinct ethnic heritage of this unique American population. Dr. Andrew Jolivétte uses sociological inquiry to analyze the factors that influence ethnic and racial identity formation and community construction among Creoles of Color living in and out of the state of Louisiana. By including the voices of contemporary Creole organizations, preservationists, and grassroots organizers, Jolivétte offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the ways in which history has impacted the ability of Creoles to self-define their own community in political, social, and legal contexts. This book raises important questions concerning the process of cultural formation and the politics of ethnic categories for multiracial communities in the United States. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina the themes found throughout Louisiana Creoles are especially relevant for students of sociology and those interested in identity issues.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Louisiana Creoles is an insightful exploration of the complex experience of one of the longest-standing 'multiracial' communities in the United States as well as of contemporary individual and organizational efforts to document and preserve that experience. A major contribution to not only the growing body of literature on multiraciality, but also the larger body of research on questions of racial, gender, class, and cultural formations and the construction of identity. (G. Reginald Daniel )

Jolivétte argues forcefully that Louisiana Creoles can only be properly viewed - and view themselves - through the lens of multiraciality. The writing style is free of jargon, the book includes many informative quote, and Jolivétte is insightful. Other useful features include a table summarizing key historical moments in Creole history and a list of Creole organizations and Web sites. Recommended. (Choice )

At its core the book discusses the internal struggle of Louisiana Creoles with mixed heritage to define themselves among family and friends, within local communities, and among Americans at large. . . . The study approaches questions about race, ethnicity, and choice both sociologically and anthropologically. Jolivette includes portions of his research tools in the appendices. These include a survey, interview questions, and a list of Creole organizations, periodicals, and Web sites, all of which give the reader a glimpse into his methodology. . . . Louisiana Creoles does prove a useful book for examining why individuals identify themselves among family members, publicly and politically, if not always culturally, and provides a starting point for other works on multiethnic identity. (American Indian Quarterly, Fall 2009 )

Andrew Jolivette has provided the reading audience with an excellent study of a much needed topic: the historical and contemporary experiences of Creole people outside of the New Orleans area. A must read for those interested in America's mixed-race phenomenon. (Troy Johnson )

About the Author

Andrew Jolivétte is assistant professor in the American Indian studies department at San Francisco State University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Lexington Books (December 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073911896X
• ISBN-13: 978-0739118962
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,747,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Louisiana Creoles, October 8, 2007

By 

Cynthia M. LaCour-Smith (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Louisiana Creoles: Cultural Recovery and Mixed-Race Native American Identity (Hardcover)

Louisiana Creoles: Cultural Recovery and Mixed-Race Native American Identity

As I read this book, I was constantly taking notes. It gave me a more indepth look into my culture as it incorporated the American Indian history and identity of our many, different ethnic backgrounds. I definitely recommend this book to all readers of multiracial background interests.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all Creoles!, March 8, 2008

By 

sunshine2005 (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Louisiana Creoles: Cultural Recovery and Mixed-Race Native American Identity (Paperback)

This book is a must read for all Creoles! Jolivette really gave justice to all the misinformation that has been said of Creoles. Race as it has been applied to Creoles has been nothing more than a political concept that ignored the true culture and Jolivette really explains how culture should be of more importance than race. I'm editing my earlier review to say that although Creoles were living as a separate ethnic group and should have their own separate ethnic category, I no longer think Creoles should be in a separate category from African Americans as we should all be coming together and being divided only helps white supremacy. However I think it's very wrong for the government to attach labels to people without letting them self identify and we're supposed to be a free country? The "one drop rule" is pretty much telling us that whites could care less whether we claim our European ancestry or not and this is another thing that makes we wonder if we should keep pursuing a separate category. Also in history when Mulattoes were able to self identify it caused a big division between them and blacks and Mulattoes were used to serve the agenda of whites. Creoles have every right to be proud of our heritage just like everybody else. We still have African symbols in our culture like Voodoo but most Creoles are Catholic and blacks have been mentally conditioned to think of African religion as paganism or everything negative and recent evidence shows that Voodoo was the most ancient form of African Spirituality before any of these other religions came about. This is another reason why we should be proud of our African heritage. I think the history of the Mardi Gras Indians should've been mentioned in the book but Jolivette shows how the Native American Indians contributed to Creole culture and each ethnicity( French, African, Indian & Spanish) deserve equal attention. I'm more proud to be Creole now because I kind of strayed away from the Creole culture due to society pressure to just think in black and white. And now with the internet I can reach out to other Creoles. I also recommend watching the film Spirit of a Culture: Cane River Creoles.