German Heritage in the Crescent City

Catalog description

This seminar will introduce students to various aspects of German culture in New Orleans. We will explore how German immigrants helped shape the cultural, social, and political structure of the Crescent City.Today, New Orleans is primarily known for its French and Spanish influence, but in the years before the American Civil War, the German population of New Orleans made up the largest German colony south of the Mason-Dixon line.German settlers dominated the local beer industry, supplied New Orleans with food harvested in the outlying parishes, and were an integral part of the local cultural scene. With the advent of World War I, Anti-German sentiment in Louisiana grew, and by the end of the war all expression of German culture was prohibited by law. Gradually, the German language disappeared,and German traditions were forgotten. However, if we dig a little deeper, we will find ample evidence of a once vibrant German culture, remnants of which survive to the present day.Students will have the opportunity to enjoy traditional German food, go on field trips to German sites,and meet with people from the German community.A variety of readings (excerpts from books and short articles), documentaries, as well as guest lectures will be part of the class. Knowledge of German is not required.