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Is it possible, given our race segregated history and we tend to identify with our former ancestry rather than being Americans? Imagine Americans categorize as a culture group or ethnicity in a foreign country much like Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Cubans are here. Little America neighborhoods in foreign countries due to immigration. Neighborhoods where English is the cultural language and the restuarants in these neighborhoods serve hot dogs, burgers, fried chicken, greens to start off. Apple Pie, Peach Cobbler, cheese cake, and banana pudding for desert.
This already exists in foreign countries. Typically, foreigners see American emigrants / tourists as "American" first, not "white," "black," etc. Also, American emigrant groups in Brazil and Liberia have developed their own American "ethnic" identity. There's even a city called Americana in Brazil, known for its residents of American descent.
Is it possible, given our race segregated history and we tend to identify with our former ancestry rather than being Americans? Imagine Americans categorize as a culture group or ethnicity in a foreign country much like Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Cubans are here. Little America neighborhoods in foreign countries due to immigration. Neighborhoods where English is the cultural language and the restuarants in these neighborhoods serve hot dogs, burgers, fried chicken, greens to start off. Apple Pie, Peach Cobbler, cheese cake, and banana pudding for desert.
The Hispanic thread got me thinking.
Well if you go to foreign areas where a lot of American expatriates live--either retirees or English teachers or US military--there will be businesses and neighborhoods with an American cultural bent to cater to them. Bars where one can watch American football for example--which is a uniquely American sport that most of the world doesn't follow. But so much of American culture has been exported all over the world to begin with--that the unique American elements are a little more diverse. We have such a large country that you've got a lot of different regional elements, that are mixes of different cultures but still uniquely American—so someone’s definition of what American culture is likely to vary from place to place.
I mean when someone mentions American food to me, I'm thinking New England Clam Chowder, lox and bagels in a New York deli, Reuben sandwiches, South Carolina BBQ, oyster po-boys, jambalaya, Texas chili, Dungeness crab cakes and so on…
When someone mentions American music to me, I'm thinking Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams Sr., Run DMC, Bill Monroe, James Brown, Talking Heads, Metallica, etc...
But anyways, I've been to countries all over the world where they served hot dogs or hamburgers---I guess I don't really think of them as that uniquely American at this point.
A lot of foods that you mentioned are rooted in ethnic history anyways but now is termed "American".
Yeah, and hot dogs derived from the frankfurters of Frankfurt, Germany and the wiener sausage of Vienna, Austria prior to being brought to America by German immigrants.
Even though my ancestory goes back to Germany and other European countries and I recognize that and try to learn all that I can about their culture, I am still nothing like a real German. I've met many Germans and I don't have any kind of connection. If I went to Germany people would not consider me one of them.. So what am I? I guess I'm American.
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