Proof

SFC Murry   ​​ SFC Murry, Johnathan   Mr. Daniels   92Y11-001   21 October 2010     ​Cajun a misunderstood culture: Their story     ​The Cajun culture is a very misunderstood culture but yet full of history. Todays   society mainly thinks of a form of cooking when they hear the word Cajun.  Webster    defines Cajun as a member of an ethnic group of Acadian French origin, primarily   living in Southern Louisiana. However, it also refers to the spicy food prepared in the   style of the Cajun  people. ​ ​To fully understand the Cajun culture you must first understand their history.   Like many American settlers the Cajuans move to America came with struggle and   resistance. Cajuns were originally known as Acadians. The Acadians were French   settlers who were exiled from France in the 1750’s. The Cajuns are their descendents that   settle in Louisiana.   ​During the Grand Derangement which is the exile, the exodus of Acadians that   took place from 1755 to 1762. The governor Charles Lawrence gave to order which   made history. Charles Lawrence is responsible for tearing Acadian families apart and   cramming them into cargo holds of wooden ships like African slaves. During the harsh   voyage many people became ill, starved or froze to death. Acadians were force to labor   and work as indenture servants in the colonies before they were able to escape. In 1803     ​​​ the United States made a significant purchase from France we know as the Louisiana   Purchase. Again the Acadian were push from the eastern region of Canada known as   Acadia and fled to Louisiana.   ​The Cajuns settle in Louisiana because of its very fertile farming soil. The area of   Louisiana, now known as Acadian, comprised about 22 parishes. It forms a triangle from   Lake Charles to west Grand Isle to the east with Pointe Coupee at the apex. The   Acadians were the largest group to settle in this area from 1765 to 1785. Although other   nationalities were there, the Acadian culture was dominant in many places. When bits   and pieces of these other cultures were added to the Acadians, a variation of the Acadian   culture was created. These people, and this culture, became known as Cajun which is a   derivation of the word Acadian.   ​Since other Cultures also called the parishes home there came some confusing.     Many people confuse Cajuns with Creole or say Cajun-Creole. The two cultures and not   the same, they have very different traits and dialects that separate them. Cajuns are from   Acadian descent meaning their forefathers where exiled from France. The Creole people   are native to Louisiana whose parents came from either France are Spain. Later Creoles’   were the offspring’s of high society Anglo-Saxon males from France and Spain.  These   aristocrats father children with American born Africans or West Indians to created Color   or Creole. Although their descendant is different they do share some similarities in   language, religion, music and cuisine.   ​ ​When we think of Louisiana, New Orleans is at the front of the conversation, and ​ you can’t leave out Mardi Gras. The media has displayed Mardi Gras as being a big   party with no significant meaning other then beads and breast. However, Mardi Gras has   a religious history that has been trace back to Arcadia. Traditionally Mardi Gras or Fat   Tuesday refers to the Ramon Catholic holiday which occurs on the eve of Lenten. Lenten   is a time where Catholics fast which they give up something important for thirty days.   Historically Catholics would celebrate before entering the Lenten seasons which is   known as Ash Wednesday. This celebrations as became what we know is today as Mardi   Gra carnival, which last for twelve days.     ​Hopefully now when you hear the term Cajun the first thing in your mind will not   be burnt food. The Cajun people have now been push into the swampy marsh lands of   Louisiana, exiled again you can say. Yet they have impact American culture deeply that   when you eating your jambalaya or boudin, you can taste the many struggle in the   explosive flavors.     ​ ​