Today’s topic is coming hot, and I do mean steaming. Thus, let me start off straight away with a disclaimer.
DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to inflame, spark, generate, condone, or otherwise support any hate, bigotry, discord, animosity, bias, insensitivity, or negativity. That being said, some readers may find the topic, subject matter, or language herein triggering, offensive, and/or highly sensitive.
So, let me set the stage for how this post came to be. It began innocent enough, and honestly, most people involved had no idea it would even become a “thing.” Lest, it did, and here we are.
A friend—yes, once again one of my friends have created yet another interesting…situation—wanted to have lunch at a rooftop restaurant. This restaurant has been in business for years and has a good reputation. Yet, no one in my group had ever gone. It’s one of those places that if it’s not on your radar, it’s just not on your radar. The location is in the middle of a town hotspot and in the middle of nowhere simetaneously. What I mean is that the restaurant physically is located in the downtown area where most of the businesses close after 6:00 PM. The first floor of the restaurant is a bank, and the next several floors are descendant condos. Anyone walking past could easily overlook a restaurant perched atop of the old building. It’s a “if you know, you know” type of establishment.
Now, that’s no shade to the business. There’s nothing clandestine about it. They don’t intentionally make themselves obscure. In fact, they advertise regularly. However, they tend to blend in but not so much that they don’t have regular customers or do good business. In my opinion, it is fair to say that they generate the majority of their business by word of mouth, but don’t quote me on that. I could be wrong.
So, we’re in town, and my friend remembers this place. We all agreed to go. It’s been a long time since any of us have walked this area in the evening, and we decide it would be a nonlogic stroll down memory lane. Not surprisingly, there are a decent number of people (mostly couples) taking in the ambiance, and it’s a beautiful night for it. The weather is great.
My friends and I stop at a lookoutpoint to take photos and reminisce. We were laughing, posing, and minding our own business when another small group approached us. Now, before this goes any further, let me quickly say nothing terrible happened, but there’s always going to be that one person who puts a damper on the night. Overall, the people in the other group are really nice, and they join in on the merriment. As it turned out, they were looking for a place to dine, and we told them about the rooftop restaurant. They decide to join us, and our two groups merge. One can never have too many friends.
Throughout dinner, my friend mentions being Creole, and this is where the difference in opinions emerged. Out of all of the people there, one person took offense to my friend using Creole as an identifier. According to this person, Creole is a term used to deny race. I think everyone at the table was a little stunned by this statement, but it isn’t one that I’ve not heard before. In fact, it is a subject that borders on the subject of colorism which is always a sticky topic but is a conversation in and of itself. But I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Creole isn’t an avoidance of acknowledging race. I suppose for some people it could be and is used that way. However, no one net will catch all fish. There will always be outliers. So, while using the term Creole a standard for denying race, it can’t be argued that there is a small number of people who use it for that purpose. But no, acknowledging being Creole is generally a person being proud (for the lack of a better word) of his/her culture.
So, that prompted the following dinner conversation.
Culture is defined as achievements, arts, beliefs, customs, social institution, traditions, values, and ways of life of a particular people, population, nation, or social group through the generations. Culture may include (but is not limited to) art, dress, codes of manners, language, religion, rituals, and symbols.
Race is defined as groups that people are divided into based on physical and/or heredity traits regarded as common among people of shared ancestry. Race is mainly the concept of diving people based on their physical characteristics and by ascribing social meaning to those groups.
And while we’re at it, we might as well define ethnicity.
Ethnicity is the grouping of people who identify with each other on the basics of perceived shared attributes, cultural characteristics, backgrounds, and/or shared experiences that distinguishes them from other groups. These may include ancestry, art, beliefs, behaviors, cuisine, cultural heritage, dialect, dress, folklore, history, homeland, language, mythology, national origin, physical appearance, religion, ritual, or values that are passed down through generations. Ethnicity differs from race in that it labels the culture of people in a given geographical region.
Here’s the rub. People of different races can still share the same culture. Acknowledging one’s culture does not mean that a person is denying his/her race. It in no way signifies or denotes that a person is ashamed of his/her race or ethnicity. The three are not mutually exclusive. Additionally, some people treat Creole as a “race” and attempt to exclude others based on physical characteristics.
But the term Creole in itself is complicated and has an extensive history. The word Creole derives from the Portuguese word crioulo. Crioulo means a slave born in the master’s household. In the United States, the term Creole originally was used to describe a person born in or indigenous to Louisiana. This included both white colonists and African slaves who were “native-born.” Over time, the term has been used to refer to persons of mixed European and black descent. To further muddy the water, more distinctions were made: French Creole (European ancestry), Black Creole (primarily African ancestry), Creole of Color (mixed race ancestry), and to describe persons whose ancestry are from Francophone and Hispanic communities. The term is also used to refer to as blended French, African, Russian, Italian, German, Chinese, Spanish, and Native American. Then, others used the term to refer to only free people of color. Sometimes, the term is used to refer to anything “about New Orleans.”
In conclusion, people can argue all day long about the use of the word Creole as a self-identifier. But isn’t it up to the person to determine how they identify? Can’t a person be proud of his/her race, ethnicity, and culture all at the same time?
So, that is all that I have. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.
Get ready. It’s time to hit the ice again. Future Goals has arrived and is available.
When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.
Order your copy at:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9
Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W
Did you miss the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.
Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.
Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.
Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.
Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.
For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.
If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or X (formerly tweet) me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads, Amazon Authors, BookBub, Bluesky, Threads, or TikTok.
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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.
Author Bio
Genevive Chamblee resides in the Bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm,” and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.
Creole Bayou 