Revelation

I recently had a sit down with my grandmother which started with talking about the proposed health care bill and ended on our family history. My conversation with my grandmother always start with one topic and end with a new understanding of our family tree and history.

Growing up I have always assumed my identity was straight forward. My last name was Italian (actually Siciliano di Ustica) and my mother was Trinidadian, therefore, I was Trinidadian-Italian-American. However, I knew deep down there was French-Cajun in my blood but I never sought to find out just how much, until now.

Through much deliberation it was finally understood that I am more French (Cajun) by way of Nova Scotia than Italian. This is a revelation because my family has always self identified as Italian. I pointed this out to my grandmother and even she has admitted that this is the case it was never really understood. My guess, it is the way of the "West", one takes their father's last name therefore you take his identity as well. Needless to say, a lot is left out, especially in America culture and identity politics (it is my opinion). Therefore, for 26 years of my life I have been mistaken. This does not however change anything about my love for Italian culture, i.e., way of life, music, food and language.

It is important to note, this does not change the fact that I am half Indo-Trinidadian. Just the other half is a little Siciliano di Ustica and mostly French-Cajun.