Ethnic heritage revival
Ethnic heritage revival refers to a renewed interest among individuals in celebrating and reclaiming their cultural identities, particularly among communities in the United States. This movement, which gained momentum in the 1960s, particularly among Americans of European descent, encompasses a wide range of cultural expressions, including literature, music, art, folklore, and traditional cuisine. It often manifests through ethnic festivals, genealogical research, and travel to ancestral homelands, highlighting a growing awareness of ethnic identity.
However, not all ethnicities equally engage in this revival, and there are notable limitations, such as a decline in ancestral language loyalty and the lack of revitalization in ethnic communities. Many participants selectively embrace aspects of their heritage that align with mainstream American values, often influenced by increasing intermarriage rates that broaden family ethnic identities. Ethnic heritage revivals can emerge from various contexts, including responses to historical marginalization or a desire for expatriate communities to reconnect with their roots. Overall, these gatherings play a significant role in preserving racial and ethnic identities and ensuring cultural traditions are passed down through generations.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Ethnic heritage revival
Beginning in the 1960s, a resurgence of interest in ethnic identity, ancestry, and cultural heritage occurred among many Americans of European descent. Among the manifestations of this revival, sometimes called the cultural revival, was a renewed interest in ethnic literature, music, art, folklore, and cuisine. Ethnic festivals, genealogical pursuits, and travel to ancestral homelands all signaled an increased awareness of ethnic identity. Although some people saw this as an indication of the persistence of ethnicity as a powerful element of individual self-identity, others pointed out the limitations of the revival. A minority of ethnicities were actually involved in revival activities, and the revitalization of ethnic communities and institutions did not occur. Ancestral language loyalty similarly declined. People picked and chose the cultural values from their heritage to embrace, generally selecting those that did not conflict with mainstream American values. Finally, intermarriage rates grew dramatically, expanding the ethnic identities of families. For those involved in the ethnic revival, it marked a meaningful way in which assimilated European Americans could maintain a nostalgic attachment to the folkways and mores of their ancestors.
Ethnic heritage revivals may occur in a variety of contexts and communities as people work together to celebrate and reclaim their culture’s traditions and their ancestor’s identities. For example, revivals may be sparked by years of systematic marginalization or by the desire of an expatriate community to reconnect with the culture of their childhood. These gatherings are important in preserving racial and ethnic identities and ensuring traditions are passed down through generations.
Bibliography
Fuchs, Lawrence H. The American Kaleidoscope: Race, Ethnicity, and the Civic Culture. Wesleyan UP, 1995.
Haerens, Margaret. Mixed Marriage. Greenhaven, 2014.
McCormick, Charlie T., and Kim Kennedy White. Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Beliefs, Customs, Tales, Music, and Art. 2nd ed., ABC-CLIO, 2011.
Tsuda, Takeyuki (Gaku). “Recovering Heritage and Homeland: Ethnic Revival among Fourth-Generation Japanese Americans.” Sociological Inquiry, vol. 85, no. 4, 2015, pp. 600–27, doi.org/10.1111/soin.12095. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Williams-León, Teresa, and Cynthia L. Nakashima. The Sum of Our Parts: Mixed-Heritage Asian Americans. Temple UP, 2001.
Zelinsky, Wilbur. The Enigma of Ethnicity: Another American Dilemma. U of Iowa City P, 2001.