tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660857958535448139.post3901360541566921684..comments2024-03-23T15:48:15.416-05:00Comments on Bayou Teche Dispatches: Born of "Elite" White Reactionism?: Assessing Claims about the Rise of Cajun EthnicityShane K. Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454946054965548589noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660857958535448139.post-42602318934456377072022-06-01T11:47:57.951-05:002022-06-01T11:47:57.951-05:00Thanks for your thoughtful comments, which I’m hap...Thanks for your thoughtful comments, which I’m happy to post. Shane K. Bernardhttps://bayoutechedispatches.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660857958535448139.post-22212100277292203502022-06-01T11:29:00.710-05:002022-06-01T11:29:00.710-05:00Interesting discussion and the general argument is...Interesting discussion and the general argument is sensible. Some points to consider: Trepanier was researching "beautification" of the label Cajun within the context of ethnic revival. A byproduct of this process was some people in positions of influence or authority promoting the label Cajun with a racial angle. So although it would not be correct to argue that the label Cajun was fabricated in the 1960s by elites , one cannot ignore the role they and race played in the revival process and preference for labels. I think that Trepanier was arguing more for the latter than the former. Related to that I dont think there was any discussion of the "official" Acadiana regional designation which was a rather heavy handed play by people in power. Since Acadian and Cajun were often presented as interchangeable terms, one cannot ignore the racial component of this move in painting the region in broad strokes. Or the consternation it has caused for people who identify as Creole, especially in areas with little or no historical Acadian presence. All these are points made by Trepanier. Lastly, Domengeaux made some interesting comments about the purity of Cajuns (or maybe it he used the word Acadian) at the same time that he could be cynical of the term Cajun and Cajun culture. You might look into whether he was speaking of racial purity or the notion of a pure folk culture. If the former then it gives some insights into why he was happy to work with the label Cajun as opposed to creole when push came to shove. Given that Cajun was in far more common use than Acadian and thus Cajun was easier to sell especially to those concerned with racial identity. Even if the label Cajun was sort of a silver rather than gold medal compared to Acadian which many prefered to think of as more prestigious. Since by that time it was accepted by many that Cajun meant Acadian or strongly implied it. Safer strategy in the minds of some than creole at a time when the south was just shaking off Jim Crow.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com