Where Czechoslovakian Americans live

Where British Americans live

Where Austrian Americans live

Singer Teena Marie Dies

Square Biz. Lovergirl. Fire & Desire. Portuguese Love. All these songs were popular R&B hits by singer Teena Marie. She died yesterday, December 26, 2010, at age 54. Teena Marie was born Mary Christine Brockert, and grew up in the Oakwood section of Venice, California.

Teena Marie found her music more popular with Black audiences than with White audiences. Her soulful style made her one of the few White performers to consistently scores hits on the R&B chart, finally topping the it in 1988 with her #1 hit "Ooo La La La". She signed with Motown Records in 1980, and became a protege of funk legend Rick James. Teena Marie described her ethnic heritage as Portuguese, Italian, Irish and American Indian.

Where Basque Americans live

Where Belgian-Americans live

Russian Orthodox Resurgence in East New York

East New York has long been a hotbed of crime, one of Brooklyn's most dangerous and run down neighborhoods. Yet East New York's Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity is experiencing a resurgence after decades of decline, due to a new wave of Russian immigrants in the city.

Where Ukrainian-Americans live

Where Swiss-Americans live

Where Finnish-Americans live

Where Armenian Americans live

Where Albanian Americans live

Nixon's ethnic diatribes

The Watergate Scandal wasn't President Nixon's only example of poor judgement. A newly released batch of tapes from the Nixon libraries reveal disparaging remarks President Nixon made in reference to Blacks, Jews, Irish-Americans, and Italian-Americans. The tapes were made in February and March 1973, and recorded conversations between Nixon and his top aides and personal secretary.

Nixon's rants stooped to the lowest of ethnic stereotypes. He took shots at the Irish as drinkers, Italians as hot tempered, and Jews as obnoxious. Surprising is the disinterest on the plight of Soviet Jews of not only Nixon, but also his German- Jewish National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger.

A tribute to New York's Italians

From Fiorello LaGuardia, to Rudolph Giuliani, Italians have left their mark in New York. Now, a proposal calls for a museum dedicated to Italian-Americans on a pier under restoration in the city's Battery Park. It is one of four proposals for the pier. The Battery Park City Authority, which runs the park, will make a decision early next year.

Celebrating Hannukah

The eight day Jewish festival of Hanukkah begins on December 1 in 2010.

In Fairfield, Connecticut, locals celebrate their second public menorah lighting. The first ceremony last year was marred by Neo-Nazis.

In West Bloomfield, Michigan, Temple Israel's No Temple Without Chanukah program aids needy families during the holiday.

At the White House, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle hosted a Hanukkah ceremony in East Room. The ceremony featured a menorah lent by a congregation in New Orleans that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Meanwhile, a new Hanukkah song has entered American popular culture. The Maccabeats are an accapella group from New York's Yeshiva University. Their Hanukkah tribute titled "Candelight" is sung to the pop song "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz and has become a YouTube sensation.

Lastly, NPR traces the origin of American Hanukkah celebrations back to the work of two Cincinnati rabbis in the late 19th century.

Russian Radio in New York

Corporate take overs and consolidations have made the New York radio dial pretty dull in the last few years. That's why it's so refreshing to find Danu Radio.

Formerly known as "Radio Pozitiv", Danu Radio is a Russian language radio station broadcasting out of Brooklyn that air music and talk shows.  While the music is Russian language, there's an international sensibility to programs like the dance music show that transcends any language barriers.

The talk shows function as an important outlet for the Russian immigrant community.

Programs include a morning show, listener call in programs like Почти дома, an Armenian language program titled Армянское Радио, and a talk show featuring Seva Kaplan, known as the founding father of Russian radio in the US. Danu Radio's website compares Kaplan to the outspokenness of shock jock Howard Stern, although that description is hard to validate as there are so few Russian speaking Howard Stern fans available to judge.
 

Parlez-vous français? ¿Se habla español?

Another casualty of the faltering American economy: Foreign language programs at many public universities. Colleges are cutting back on language programs as administrators cope with cuts in state and federal aid to schools. European languages in particular fall victim to the cutbacks, as enrollment reflects the shift of interest to Asian languages.

The most popular languages, based on enrollment, remain Spanish and French. Languages that saw the largest enrollment increases are Arabic, Korean, and Chinese.

Where Jewish-Americans live

Where the Scotch-Irish live in America

Don't kvetch. Head to KlezKamp instead.

Each December, KlezKamp manifests in a hotel in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. It's a week long program dedicated to keeping alive the traditional Yiddish language and culture. Participants immerse themselves in the culture and language that were almost decimated by Hilter.

Before World War II, Yiddish was the lingua franca among Central and Eastern European Jews. Klez Camp was founded by musician and scholoar Henry Sapoznik. Now in it's 29th year, KlezKamp attracts some 500 participants,  ensuring that Yiddish folk traditions are passed to the next generation.

Where Scottish-Americans live

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Where Portuguese-Americans live

Where Hungarian-Americans live

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End of a Polish American Newspaper

It's time to say good bye to another ethnic newspaper. After 51 years serving the Polish-American community with an English language weekly newsletter, the Polish American World published its final edition on October 22. In the end, it was the skyrocketing cost of printing and distributing that led to the demise of the paper, and the elderly owners were not interested in further pursuing an online edition.

Do widzenia Polish American World!

Ethnic heritage and governor's races

Two northeastern gubernatorial races this year offer us a chance to review how ethnic identity still impacts politics in 2010.

The last time Maine had a Franco-American governor was the 1800's. That could change now that Republican Paul LePage is running for governor. An article looks at the impact of Franco-American heritage among Maine's potential voters.

Meanwhile in New York, the governor's race is a match between two Italian-Americans: Republican Carl Paladino, and Democrat Andrew Cuomo. The heated campaign raises the question if politics has moved beyond the old ethnic stereotypes or if it is actually reinforcing long held myths of Italian-Americans.

Fewer immigrants Anglicizing names

Common practice in the 19th and 20th centuries was for immigrants arriving in America to Anglicize their names. The idea was that immigrants would change their original name to a more Anglicized version to facilitate assimilation into American culture. For example, the German "Schmidt" morphed into the Anglo "Smith". In other cases, changes occurred when immigration agents shortened or transliterated names from foreign alphabets, notably from Cyrillic and Greek.

This is no more the case. Fewer than one in six immigrants applied to change their names on naturalization forms according to the US government. There's even less Anglicizing of stage names in Hollywood. The Swiss surname of Renée Zellweger and the Armenian surname of the Kardashian sisters have served their careers well. Compare that to a generation ago when these actresses might have been encouraged to give up their family names for something more Anglo.

It shows an America that's increasingly tolerant. One that does not expect people to sever ties with their ethnicity in exchange for for success. You could even say that embracing one's heritage makes a person's narrative more compelling, compared to those who downplay their heritage in an attempt to fit in.

Armenian Memorial Planned for Boston

Ground broke today in Boston on a memorial honoring Armenian immigrants to the United States. It will also honor the memory of over 1.5 million Armenians killed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. The memorial will  sit on the city's Rose Kennedy Greenway. Space for the park was made possible following completion of Boston's "Big Dig", which freed up land once the elevated highway weaving through downtown was buried in tunnels under the city. In attendance today was Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Discrimination against Hungarian-American professor

Bias against Hungarian-Americans isn't likely to draw the attention of civil liberties activists and racial opportunists that usually salivate at even a hint of discrimination.

However the New York State Division of Human Rights is still investigating a discrimination suit brought against Trocaire College in Buffalo by a Hungarian-American professor. The division has found probable cause that the school discriminated against Dr. Csaba Marosan because of his national origin, age, gender, and sexual orientation. The investigation is also reviewing if Trocaire College retaliated against Marosan for filing the complaint. Among their discoveries, investigators found evidence that the college wanted to fire Marosan because of his accent. Meanwhile the college denies any discrimination.

"Birthright" strengthens ties between Jews and Israel

I had never heard of Birthright until recently. The first time I even heard the name was at my office. It happened that two of my colleagues both were fast approaching age 26, and there was a sense of urgency to sign up for the organization's trip to Israel before they were too old.

Taglit-Birthright Israel is a charity that sponsors heritage trips to Israel. It offers a free 10 day trip. The clincher is that to quality, individuals must be aged 18-26 and have at least one Jewish grandparent. Participants visit historical, religious and cultural heritage sites around Israel, including the Western Wall, the Negev, and the Dead Sea.

Meanwhile, everlasting bonds are formed between Jews and Israel, which certainly must be one Birthright's goals. A Brandeis University study shows that programs such as Birthright help maintain a strong sense of connection between American Jews and Israel. Note that Birthright isn't limited to American Jews. Trips are open to those from 64 countries in the Jewish Diaspora.

Where Arab-Americans live

New York's Little Syria

A lot of attention has turned to the proposed Islamic Cultural Center planned for New York's lower Manhattan, surely due to its proximity to Ground Zero. At best, many of the arguments against the center are short sighted, overlooking the neighborhood's history. At worst, many of the naysayers are pandering to xenophobia and Anti-Arab sentiment. What many don't realize is during the first half of the last century, this same section of lower Manhattan was home to “Little Syria”. This ethnic enclave was the destination of Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian immigrants, centered on Washington Street just steps from City Hall.

At that time, the Muslim population was no greater than 5%, as most of the Arab immigrants were Christians. No mosques served the community, but rather 3 churches served the mostly Christian immigrant population. This included St. George Chapel of the Melkite Rite, inactive, but still standing 103 Washington Street.

The Little Syria neighborhood has since been razed to make way for urban renewal projects, most notably the World Trade Center and the entrance to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.

Soccer: Where sports and national pride intersect in Chicago

Soccer has never been as big a sport in the United States as let's say football, basketball or baseball. What keeps it alive here is the steady flow of immigrants, who import their passion for what the rest of the world refers to as "football". Only Americans refer to the sport under a different name, soccer.

Chicago's National Soccer League is a sports haven for new immigrants. The NSL is a competitive men's soccer league formed in the Chicago metropolitan area in 1919, making it one of the oldest soccer leagues in America.The league's teams serve as an outlet for both athletics and national pride. That's evident in the club names like FC Macedonia and Assyrian Blue.

But the flow of immigrants to fuel a team's roster often slows depending on what's happening in the mother land. As Croatia's economy has improved, the tide of new Croatian players stepping off the plane and heading to the fields has ebbed. That means the roster of the Croatian based RWB Adria now includes Lithuanian and Venezuelan players.

Where Anglo-Americans live

The Russians are coming

Neighborhood demographics change: it's part of the evolution of neighborhoods. A community that fails to attract newcomers is a community that is stagnant.

The latest chapter in the drama of ethnic change is Staten Island. The New York borough is now experiencing growing pains as Russian-Americans flock to the area.

Russian immigrants have long settled in Brooklyn, particularly neighborhoods like Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay. As their children come of age, many are now branching further out, especially to Staten Island.

The move does not come without resentment from long time Staten Island natives. The tension recently peaked over a community center proposed for a neglected  property in South Beach. The center was perceived as something for the Russians, instead of a project that would benefit the whole community as a whole. Locals were not shy about expressing their displeasure at a recent civic meeting.

As is often the case, natives seem quick to forget that they too were once the newcomers. Surely there was a previous generation of Staten Island "natives" who didn't care for the influx of Italian-American and Irish-Americans who now see themselves as Staten Island's long time residents.

Welcoming a mosque

The city of Utica in Upstate New York has seen better days. Like many Rust Belt cities, Utica has seen its' share of  businesses leave, followed by residents and its young people packing their bags to find their fortunes elsewhere.

However Bosnian immigrants are breathing new life into this down and out rust belt city. The Bosnians began arriving here during the 1990's, fleeing the war that tore apart their home country.

A key milestone marking the Bosnian's ascendency in Utica was the opening of the Utica Mosque. The mosque opened in 2008 in the United Methodist Church building. The significance does not go unnoticed that Utica's new mosque opened without controversy, whereas communities elsewhere in the United States struggle with proposed mosques, even in New York City. It's very well possible that the reaction to the mosque might not have been the same if Utica's Muslim population was dominated by Arabs, versus European Bosnians.

The New England Holocaust Memorial

The New England Holocaust Memorial is located in Carmen Park, on Boston's Freedom Trail. It is one of the more interactive Holocaust tributes in the US, and its' design is rich in symbolism.

Six glass towers rise from the memorial. Six million numbers are etched in the glass, representing the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust.

Each tower represents one of the major Nazi extermination camps: Auschwitz-Birkenau, Belzec, Chelmno, Majdanek, Sobibor, and Treblinka.

Visitors pass through the towers on a black granite path. A steel grate covers a six foot deep chamber at the base of each tower. Smoke rises from charred embers at the bottom of these pits, evoking thoughts of the gas chambers used in the camps.

A look at New Haven's Wooster Square

Many cities across America have their own "Little Italy" districts. These neighborhoods have experienced profound demographic changes as Italian-Americans migrated from the central city to the suburbs. While some are now mere memories in history, others remain alive as tourist districts, featuring Italian restaurants, bakeries and cafes. In New Haven that neighborhood is Wooster Square.

Wooster Street Arch

Italians first began moving to the area in the late 1800's, many hailing from Italy's Amalfi coast. The neighborhood was almost sacrificed to misguided urban renewal efforts in the 1950's and 60's by planners who saw more value in a highway versus a cohesive, walkable neighborhood. However city preservationists stepped in, and Wooster Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Demographics have changed somewhat since then. Yet the Italian flavor remains, and the neighborhood is one of the more stable residential areas in a somewhat downtrodden city.

Wooster Square is a popular destination for Italian food. On a chilly winter morning's visit, there was a substantial crown waiting to enter the storefront of Frank Pepe's Pizzeria. I doubt you'll find that kind of devotion or enthusiasm to grab a slice at your run of the mill pizza national chains like Papa Johns and Pizza Hut. That's what makes places like Wooster Square so special, something that malls and corporate franchises just can't duplicate. 

Frank Pepe's Pizzeria

 Statue of Christopher Columbus in Wooster Square Park

　

Brooklyn meets Poland

New York City, specifically Brooklyn, is a popular destination for Polish immigrants today. The importance of one Brooklyn neighborhood, Greenpoint, is evident in this scene from Krakow. A clothing store in the city's old town bears neighborhood's name.

Where Welsh-Americans live

Where French-Canadians live

Where Franco-Americans live

Slavophile Society

Rusted sign for the "Slavophile Society" on Route 27 in Dresden, Maine.

Where Czech-Americans live

Where Polish-Americans live

Where Italian-Americans live

Commendatore Menino

Thomas M. Menino is Boston's longest serving mayor, and the city's first Italian-American mayor. Now, Menino adds one more honor: the title of "Commendatore Menino" after being knighted by the Italian government. He joins a list that includes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and race car driver Mario Andretti.

A commendatore is a member of an Italian honorary order of chivalry who ranks next above an officer and next below a grand officer. The honor is awarded by decree of the President of Italy, and Menino's title was approved by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

Menino, the city’s first Italian-American and longest-serving mayor, was awarded the title by Boston’s outgoing Italian consul general Liberio Stellino. The honor was approved by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. - See more at: http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_politics/2010/08/very_special_knight_mayor_tom_menino#sthash.42dN3hvl.dpuf

Menino, the city’s first Italian-American and longest-serving mayor, was awarded the title by Boston’s outgoing Italian consul general Liberio Stellino. The honor was approved by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. - See more at: http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_politics/2010/08/very_special_knight_mayor_tom_menino#sthash.42dN3hvl.dpuf