Louisianan Diversified Culture

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Prepare a research paper (2 pages, typed, double spaced) on a topic of your choice that is about Louisiana culture, traditions, foodways, folk practices, etc. and that you have a personal connection to. Consider interviewing an older family member about work practices, community, home life, etc. in the past. You must use at least three resources (book, article, newspaper, interview, etc.) and one must be from the internet.
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Louisiana is one of the 50 states of United States of America. It’s the 25th most popular,
and 31th the most expensive state in the U.S. it is located in the southern part of U.S, and its
capital city is called Baton Rouge. New Orleans is the largest city in this state, and the state is
politically divided into subdivisions known as parishes. The state neighborhoods include
Mississippi to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Arkansas to the north and Texas to the
west. Despite the state being pulled toward the cultural, economic mainstream, the city has a
variety of traditions (Donlon 2-4). The individuals in the state are aware of the complex mixture
in of traditions. This paper contains a comprehensive analysis of tradition, culture, food way,
folk practice among others and an interview with my grandmother.
The Houma is the largest tribe in the state of over 10,000 people, who live alongside
Lafourche parishes and bayous of Terrebonne. Another tribe in the state is Koasati that lives
Allen Parish outside of Elton and they are characterized by its pine basket. Apalachee is the other
group of people in the state who are mostly Indians. Louisiana is dominated by people who came
from currently known Nova Scotia as petit habitant in the 19th century. Over time the Acadians
people have adopted diversified cultural practices in the area from Italians, Slavonians, Africans,
Germans and Native American (Kreol 1-5). The word Creole was used to refer to people with
mixed cultures from Africa, Europe, and America living in this city. The culture of Louisiana’s Creole is rich of music, religious tradition, and food. The mixture of people from different
grounds caused the tremendous divergent of Louisiana culture.
Louisiana people used to communicate mostly in Parisian French, however over time the
language has changed into the new, different hybrid language. Many people have adopted a
mixed language of French and West African patois which was used by both Angle creoles and
the mixed races (Spitzer 7). Many ethnic individuals gradually adopted the Creole French
language in the city including the Native American, Cambodians, Vietnamese, Syrians and host
of other ethnicities. Currently, the Creole French is the most spoken language in many rural areas
in the state since American English supports it as the basic language.
Cajun and Creole cultures have contributed significantly to the Cajun dance music with
waltzes, Hunting ballads, and two steps creole zydeco music. However, the city has recently
adopted new music style of blues music and variation of rhythm in regions mostly in the
southern part of Louisiana and into the west of Texas. Also the state has a combined swap pop
rhythm and blues with black, Cajun-Creole music of the western country (Gillis 7-13). The
music in this city is characterized by honky-tonk piano and a horn section which is used as a
spice to the songs. Also the state has a part of the community that is characterized by vital jazz
music and prominent country music.
According to the conversation with my grandmother who has been living in this state for
more than 70 years, the traditional state culture has gradually diverse as a result of mixed races.
The grandmother shared a vast history of her know how about the state. According to her, Craft
tradition of the northern part of Louisiana reflect the skills that were used in their economic
activity of farming and plantation. Knife making, trap making, saddlery, whip making, quilting
and split-oak basket making are still prominent and practiced by many people. However, a few

group of people in the State enjoy involving themselves in practices such as making lace by
hands, blacksmithing, carving toys, making birdhouses out of gourds and carving walking sticks.
Louisiana state has interesting food traditions which include jams, vegetable crops (sweet
potatoes, peas, beans, corn, and greens), jellies, cattle, and hogs. The state usually has a large
number of farmers who practice Agriculture on plantations. The northern part of Louisianans still
hunts and eat game animals such as rabbit, quail, venison, and raccoon. The people also do
fishing and they both farm gamefish and catfish such as crappie and bream (Lowe 1-8). People in
this state like eating fried fish and meats in most of their family and friend gathering which are
conducted mostly on Sundays.
The strong Protestant heritage of the area is reflected by ritual traditions where there still
whole day singing after churches in the city. In the interior rural areas, there is church program
known as “homecoming” where the families and long distances relatives come together (Owens
3-9). Besides that, some church still conducts baptism in the same rivers which have been used
for generations.
In conclusion, many ethnic groups exist in Louisiana, and some of their traditional
cultures have not yet been documented. The state has a lot of different people from different
origins such as Italy, Africa, native Americans, Chinese among other. It has been the primary
reason why the state has very diversified and mixed culture. Cowboy trait is also evident in the
state which is borrowed from the neighboring Mexicans who are widely known for this lifestyle.
The city has changed its way of life into more modernized and diversified traditional culture.

 

Works Cited

Donlon, Ocelyn H. "Louisiana's Three Folk Regions." Folklife in Louisiana, 2015,
www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/la_3_folk_reg.html.
Gillis, John R. "Traditional Cultures Editorial: Mobility and Innovation in Traditional Coastal
Cultures." Coastal Change, Ocean Conservation and Resilient Communities, 2016,
pp. 7-13.
Kreol. "Louisiana Creole Tradition." International Magazine Kreol, 2014,
kreolmagazine.com/culture/history-and-culture/louisiana-creole-
tradition/#.WdnSHCWXfIU.
Lowe, John. Louisiana Culture from the Colonial Era to Katrina. Louisiana State UP, 2008.
Owens, Maida. "Louisiana's Traditional Cultures: An Overview." Folklife in Louisiana, 2015,
www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Maidas_Essay/main_introduction_onepage.html.
Spitzer, Nicholas R. "The Creole State: An Introduction to Louisiana Traditional
Culture." Folklife in Louisiana, 2015,
www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/creole_art_creole_state.html.