One whole side of my family are Norman French who came to Quebec in the 1600s and only moved to the USA in the 1950s. I guess I'm more Viking-Froggy and less heritagy.
Thread for Heritage Americans
- Thread starter starlight
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My mom and I have been working on our family genealogy for many years (as well as collecting family stories from the eldest before they passed) and it's something that I've always been fascinated with. Whenever I would look at pictures of old family members (some are daguerreotype and tintypes and no one remembers who they were...) I would always wonder "Who really is this person? What was their life like? What were they like? What were their hopes and dreams, joys and sorrows?" Studying genealogy not only keeps the past alive but also gives us a realistic perspective on our own existence: that we're just another branch in our family tree. I hope, someday, a great-great-granddaughter will wonder about who I was and try to imagine what it was like to live during this time period.
In the current year, I think it's especially important to recognize that America, as a people, still exists. The pilgrims, colonists, pioneers, '49ers, etc., didn't just vanish. They exist within their descendants, us. And I think it should be celebrated. I don't think it's boasting to be incredibly proud of the achievements of our ancestors and share their stories.
It's sad to have unlabeled old, fading photos. By doing online research, though, I found distant cousins who helped identify some, and also had some to share. What treasures! So don't throw out your unidentified ones, and perhaps scan them instead, as you never know. I have another family story to share:
My GG Grandmother had experienced many losses. Her parents died when she was only 5. She was brought to America in the early 1800's from England by her aunt and uncle when she was still a child. Her aunt's baby died on the voyage to America. Her older sister moved on to Austrailia. Shortly after arriving here her aunt also died so her uncle placed her in a convent, but she escaped over the wall, living in the streets until she was taken in by another family. She married her first husband in her late teens who, sadly, died a year later from an old wound he'd received in the Mexican War just before she bore his son. She met my GG Grandfather, who married her, also taking in her young son, and they had their own family. (LIving happily ever after!)
I shared the above story hoping it would be interesting to someone. Many of my ancestors arrived before we became a nation. I don't want to bore you all, but I care very much about our founding families, the colonists, and admire their strength of character and courage.. I can't help but feel that our culture has lost something over the centuries.
My GG Grandmother had experienced many losses. Her parents died when she was only 5. She was brought to America in the early 1800's from England by her aunt and uncle when she was still a child. Her aunt's baby died on the voyage to America. Her older sister moved on to Austrailia. Shortly after arriving here her aunt also died so her uncle placed her in a convent, but she escaped over the wall, living in the streets until she was taken in by another family. She married her first husband in her late teens who, sadly, died a year later from an old wound he'd received in the Mexican War just before she bore his son. She met my GG Grandfather, who married her, also taking in her young son, and they had their own family. (LIving happily ever after!)
I shared the above story hoping it would be interesting to someone. Many of my ancestors arrived before we became a nation. I don't want to bore you all, but I care very much about our founding families, the colonists, and admire their strength of character and courage.. I can't help but feel that our culture has lost something over the centuries.
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I love hearing/reading old family stores.
Some idiot said that "remember when..." was the lowest form of dialogue except that "remember when..." is literally all of verbally transferred memory and stories. Tell and retell the stories of your ancestors lest they be forgot.
Anyway...
Here's one for you: My great-great Uncle was walking on his way home one evening in far North Michigan...
(Where he was coming from, we don't know. The first thought is that he was coming home from a saloon or bar except they didn't (and still don't) have anything like that around that nearby for miles).
Anyway, so my great-great uncle was walking home and it started to get dark and he got really tired. So, he did the normal thing and laid down to sleep on the side of the road with his shotgun in his arm. Unfortunately, he blew half his arm off before sunrise. Somehow he lived and was eventually immortalized by the local paper.
What a story!
I'm descended from William Brewster and am also related to the clumsy boy John Howland that fell off the Mayflower
Why not, if it's something Canadians would be interested in. With ancestors who arrived in the 18th century, you'd certainly be the Canadian equivalent of a Heritge American. It's unfortunate that you felt the need to use those contemptuous quotes. Surely there is a difference between Anglo-Saxon people with a genetic connection to the USA or Anglophone Canada going back to colonial times and those whose ancestors came from somewhere other than Great Britain just a few geneations ago. Even more so with more recent immigrants from outside of Europe.
Unless you believe in magic dirt theory, of course. That is, the idea that moving a Honduran, Nigerian, or an Arab to to the USA or Canada magically transforms him into an American or Canadian just like you and me.
That is amazing. You definitely get some serious bragging rights! Are you a part of the Mayflower Society??
This is question begging: To be White means to be European. So then what does it mean to be European?
Were the Romans White? Because they never considered themselves European.
What are you talking about? Have you not seen the very sculptures of the men themselves called Caesar by history? Or any other sculpture of antiquity?
We're obviously talking about the European Continent...
What does it mean to be Black or Asian or etc. break down that first... No one is deliberately genociding them... But "White" people are clearly defined whether you like it or not. Everyone knows what a White persons is just like everyone knows what a Black or Asian etc... you're completely blue-pilled if you believe otherwise
There are multiple cultures on the continent of Europe that do not consider themselves "white".
I have 100% Greek and Italian friends who would be offended if you called them "white". Not because there is anything wrong with being white but because they are not white, their culture is not what you call "white". That's not even to speak of my Eastern European friends. In fact nobody in Europe calls themselves "white" at all, they call themselves whatever their culture is.
Myself and my relatives look like those statues you're referencing my direct ancestors were the first civilization of the Fertile Crescent, I don't think you would call me "white".
If you need to call yourself "white" to give yourself an identity then by all means do so there is nothing wrong with that, but your definition is not shared by the actual native people of those lands for you to be declaring it for them. It's a new age American thing because cultures have become so diluted that a new term was needed.
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I don't "need" to call myself White. I am White.
This thread is meant to be about American Heritage families and progeny. Tut tut
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I'm not a "heritage" American I'm not qualified to speak in this thread apparently, sorry my apologies for intruding.
No, you are not a heritage American unless you had at least one ancestor that came to the US before the War of Independence.
That was 1000s of years ago. Noone considered themselves European at that time. I believe Italians consider themselves European today.
I would define European as people whose ethnic ancestry is from somewhere in the continent of Europe. I would count the Roma as non-European for example. I think the Sami in northern Finland could be called European, but possibly not white. They are the rare exception, since they really are from Europe all the way back.
I would say Jews are not European even if they have long ancestry in Europe, because they are not originally from there.
Some Southern Europeans have fairly dark skin, but I would still consider them European, and therefore white.
Yea thanks that's what I said in response to the post you deleted, I didn't really need any clarification.
At least one huh? Out of how many? Haha you're really really picking the wrong guy to get cute about ancestry with, quit while you think you're ahead.
Here is what the men who founded the USA considered to be an "American" and of heritage stock.
Geeze... you either have some or you don't.