Creole Culture in New Orleans

Like the city of New Orleans itself, the word “Creole” vibrates with a rich and complex history. It’s a spicy amalgam of influences from the Old World and the New, and European and Afro-Caribbean, a testament to the rich melting pot that created the proud native culture of New Orleans.

Just what is a Creole?

The answer to that question has morphed over the years, and even today there are as many as 30 definitions for the word. Originally, the term referred to the descendents of French and Spanish colonists who flocked to the city in the early 18th century. By the time of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the definition had expanded to include any native of New Orleans, including the large population of “gens de couleur libre,” free persons of color as well as slaves born in the city.

After Louisiana became part of the United States, a growing number of white, English-speaking people moved to New Orleans (settling mainly in the uptown area). Meanwhile, the native Creoles dominated the city’s downtown, including the French Quarter. As time wore on, white New Orleanians disassociated themselves from the term “Creole,” and the word came to refer to the non-white population native to New Orleans. Today, it generally refers to anyone who can trace his or her roots back to the early inhabitants of the city.

Creole is Not Cajun...

Many mistakenly use the terms Creole and Cajun interchangeably, but they refer to two very distinct groups of people. Cajuns descended from French Canadians who immigrated to the rural areas of the Louisiana bayou. When you’re in the cosmopolitan city of New Orleans, you’re in Creole territory. The growing interest in African-American history has brought new interest to the unique Creole culture of New Orleans.

Creole culture has had a long and profound impact on the city of New Orleans, bringing a heritage of delicious food, lively music, colorful dialect, and fascinating folklore. These elements of Creole culture are—like the people themselves—unique mixtures of influences from the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and Native America. Use your time in New Orleans to explore the city’s Creole culture and celebrate its one-of-a kind history.

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Creole Culture Links:

Les Gens de Coleur Libres
A site devoted to the history and heritage of Creole New Orleans’ free people of Color and their descendents

The Website of the New Orleans Public Library
Full of information, images, and interesting facts about Creole culture and the history of New Orleans

The Louisiana Creole Heritage Center
A clearinghouse for information on Creole culture

References:

• “On Being Creole” by Edward J. Branley, http://www.gumbopages.com/being-creole.html