Louisiana's Multicultural Past, Present, and Future
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By :
Art Gib
Submitted
2008-08-07 04:51:32 |
To receive some exposure to multiple cultures without leaving America, Louisiana may be one of the best places to visit. If you're interested in completely immersing yourself in a multicultural society that is completely unique, then you might want to start looking for Louisiana homes for sale and make it your permanent residence.
The de facto languages are both English and French. Visitors might find it interesting to hear some of the natives speaking Haitian Creole, with a strong French influence intertwined with African culture. But the Creole spoken in Louisiana can vary according to region, resulting in minor dialect differences.
Louisiana's multicultural heritage comes as the result of a very interesting and unique past when it comes to American states.
Louisiana's Past, Forming Its Future
Both the Spanish and the French explored Louisiana during the 16th century. However, France claimed the land for itself as Spanish interest in the area fell off. Many French settlements resulted, providing for Louisiana's base in French language speakers.
With access to the Gulf, resulting in Louisiana Gulf cities becoming major ports of entry, many ships brought slaves and indentured servants, both black and white, to the states to serve the upper class in the region. A major shift occurred between the treatment of whites and blacks when three indentured servants, two white and one black, decided they had enough of a slave's life and made a plan to escape.
The three were later captured and brought before a court. The punishment given to the black man was far harsher than those given to the two white men. Many historians view this event as a major turning point in the social status of blacks. Prior to this, white servants were looked upon no differently from black servants.
As black slave trade increased, an influx of Africans were brought into Louisiana helping to form a strong black Creole culture. The Creole language and culture became a mix of French, Spanish, and African influence. After the Revolution many Haitians immigrated, strengthening the Creole culture and language.
The Creoles of Louisiana remain a strong economic influence in the state today, although some believe that mainstream American culture is beginning to overtake the state and may someday overtake the Creole/Cajun culture.
Louisiana's Future
While Hurricane Katrina left the future of New Orleans and surrounding areas in question, mammoth reconstruction efforts have cemented their continuation. Creole and Cajun influence continue to be strong, and those who say the mainstream American culture will someday wipe it out are likely to be proven wrong.
Louisiana appears to promise a continued diverse collection of many cultures for decades, even centuries to come. For those wishing to live within this culture and become a part of it, reconstruction efforts in New Orleans provide for plenty of new Louisiana homes for sale right in the heartland of Creoles and Cajuns. |
Author Resource:-
Remax Louisiana (http://www.remax-louisiana.com) has specialized in offering Louisiana homes for sale for over 30 years. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.
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