Several years ago I took a class from a colleague titled Sociology of Family Tree. It was an interesting exercise on how to weave the larger context into the family history. I have since revised parts of my family tree including a wider perspective including Red Lining (very relevant to my Chicago family) and the changes in immigration laws in the early 20th Century. Zerubavel has a book "Ancestry and Relative: Genealogy, Identity, and Community" that is a good resource. Christine Sleeter has several books and a web page on critical family history. Her web page is https://www.christinesleeter.org/critical-family-history. I think it is important was use explore our own identity to make sure we move beyond nostalgia and try as best as possible to reflect the larger social currents including the uncertainties. I am enjoying your reflections, thank you for sharing.
Good wishes on this journey! My own grandmother got on a boat in Pusan in 1923 (when my grandfather came to get her, 17 years after their betrothal and his arrival on the mainland U.S. She knew, then, that she was saying goodbye forever to her mother, father, many sisters, and extended family. She had a strong sense of adventure, I'm told. Also, there's nothing like an occupied country to provide incentive to depart.
My dad’s name is Karel, came to Chicago from Czech in 1950, one of the last waves of immigrants to come after surviving WW2. He used Charles too, and most Americans called him Charlie. He is cremated and still home with me. I’ll use Karel when I decide his final resting place as that is his birth name and gives me a sense of ethnic pride. Thanks for sharing your written thoughts. I’ll be following.
Your journey is weirdly similar to mine. I left a solid career with my labor union ( Ironworkers 401) where I was close to getting into the political side of things ( business agent ), but felt a great conflict with some things I hadn't done with my family, and the urge to finally write - something I found difficult in the family/work routine that I had developed in Philadelphia. It's tough though, once you have the desire to write, unless you do write you're life feels as if it missed its mark. Don't know if getting a book written will make me fulfilled... do know that not writing feels off.
but anyway, I'm trying to dissect my own family's history in Philadelphia, working on that memoir, which is a weird parallel to the immigrant farmer story - the immigrant urban dweller who made a fat life not off of the land but from the economic abundance of the era. I, too, am exploring alot of the racial issues of my family and community.
But what stands out to me in your story ( and by the way i left Philly to homestead in Alaska ( on my measly 2 acres!) is a man being able to claim 160 acres of land. America, home of the business man, was just a vast wealth redistribution to those with nothing. ( taken from the native yes). To think! 160 acres! what is the value of that today nominal! I know he worked his brains out and all power to him, but good God, what a once in a lifetime strange time in the universe when a poor working man ( white ) with initiative could claim 160 acres of productive earth. The biggest capitalist country in the wealth was launched on the foundation of a massive socialist land distribution. Ironic. My youngest is a Charles - but in philly you become a Challie, but all good yeshua and keep up the good work
Several years ago I took a class from a colleague titled Sociology of Family Tree. It was an interesting exercise on how to weave the larger context into the family history. I have since revised parts of my family tree including a wider perspective including Red Lining (very relevant to my Chicago family) and the changes in immigration laws in the early 20th Century. Zerubavel has a book "Ancestry and Relative: Genealogy, Identity, and Community" that is a good resource. Christine Sleeter has several books and a web page on critical family history. Her web page is https://www.christinesleeter.org/critical-family-history. I think it is important was use explore our own identity to make sure we move beyond nostalgia and try as best as possible to reflect the larger social currents including the uncertainties. I am enjoying your reflections, thank you for sharing.
Your search will be rewarded.
Good wishes on this journey! My own grandmother got on a boat in Pusan in 1923 (when my grandfather came to get her, 17 years after their betrothal and his arrival on the mainland U.S. She knew, then, that she was saying goodbye forever to her mother, father, many sisters, and extended family. She had a strong sense of adventure, I'm told. Also, there's nothing like an occupied country to provide incentive to depart.
My dad’s name is Karel, came to Chicago from Czech in 1950, one of the last waves of immigrants to come after surviving WW2. He used Charles too, and most Americans called him Charlie. He is cremated and still home with me. I’ll use Karel when I decide his final resting place as that is his birth name and gives me a sense of ethnic pride. Thanks for sharing your written thoughts. I’ll be following.
todays bloghttps://fatherofzoomers.substack.com/p/pro-life-and-pro-choice?r=jejuu&s=w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Your journey is weirdly similar to mine. I left a solid career with my labor union ( Ironworkers 401) where I was close to getting into the political side of things ( business agent ), but felt a great conflict with some things I hadn't done with my family, and the urge to finally write - something I found difficult in the family/work routine that I had developed in Philadelphia. It's tough though, once you have the desire to write, unless you do write you're life feels as if it missed its mark. Don't know if getting a book written will make me fulfilled... do know that not writing feels off.
but anyway, I'm trying to dissect my own family's history in Philadelphia, working on that memoir, which is a weird parallel to the immigrant farmer story - the immigrant urban dweller who made a fat life not off of the land but from the economic abundance of the era. I, too, am exploring alot of the racial issues of my family and community.
But what stands out to me in your story ( and by the way i left Philly to homestead in Alaska ( on my measly 2 acres!) is a man being able to claim 160 acres of land. America, home of the business man, was just a vast wealth redistribution to those with nothing. ( taken from the native yes). To think! 160 acres! what is the value of that today nominal! I know he worked his brains out and all power to him, but good God, what a once in a lifetime strange time in the universe when a poor working man ( white ) with initiative could claim 160 acres of productive earth. The biggest capitalist country in the wealth was launched on the foundation of a massive socialist land distribution. Ironic. My youngest is a Charles - but in philly you become a Challie, but all good yeshua and keep up the good work