Homelands and tribal life
Cultural Crossroads
Rhode Island Peoples and Traditions
The Arrivals
1524 Verrazzano’s ‘Refugio,’ to Blackstone’s, Williams’ and Anne Hutchinson’s 1636 religious refuge
1657/58 Quakers, Spanish and Portuguese Jews
1725 Slaves and Protestant Irish
1700s, English indentured servants,
1800–1840 English mill hands, pre-Famine Irish, Portuguese whalers
1850s Famine Irish, 1860s Fr. Canadians, Scandinavians
1873 Germans
1890s Italians, Poles, Armenians, Greeks
1890s Russian Jews, Swedes, Chinese
1905 Syrian/Lebanese
1912 Azoreans, India
1940s/1950s Hispanics
1980s S. E. Asian, African
Prejudice and Discrimination
Native population treated as pagan; sold as slaves after King Philip’s War
Jews and Catholics without a vote, treated as ‘resident aliens
Slaves seen as property, gradual emancipation, 1778 Black Regiment
Famine Irish: jobs withheld
Dorr War era Nativism prospers
Irish treat Fr. Canadians and Italians second class citizens, monopolizing church and civic jobs
1880s Narragansett Tribal Reservation closed
1900 Americanization programs denigrate immigrants
1920s KKK activity targets Catholics, Blacks and Jews
English only in schools fuels anti-parochial school action
World War prejudice meted out to Italian and German citizens
Post-war discrimination in housing impacts urban areas, schools, services
1965 equal rights protests and riots
Creative Survival: from hand-outs to hands up
1790 Black church growth becomes a foundation for uplift
Expansion of mills creates low skill jobs for waves of immigrants
Jobs for Blacks and Indians lag for 150 years
1830 to 1870s advent of cities means jobs for police/fire/sanitation;
growth of Irish political power dominates job scene for decades.
Extends to public utilities
Higher-skilled jobs as machinists, silver smithing, skilled craftsmen attract newer skilled immigrants
Some immigrant groups seek rise in status through education
Manufacturers add apprentice training programs
Others use night school
Military service in WW, and following, lifts all groups
Role of Clubs/Organizations
Narragansett tribe
African Union Society
Hibernian Society
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick
Prince Hall Masons
Sons of Italy
Prince Henry Society
Seven Castles Club
Hebrew Free Loan Society
Dom Polski Club
Polish White Eagles
Turnverein Club
Schubert Society
Vasa
St. Andrews Society
Scandinavian Home
Catholic Youth Organization
political clubs
ethnic sports leagues
Knights of Columbus
Feasts and Festivals
Pow-wows
St. Patrick’s Day parades
Black Regiment day
St. Joseph’s Day
Day of Portugal
Greek Festival
Cape Verdean Independence Day
St Rocco’s Festival
Itri Festival
Santa Lucia Festival
Armenian Genocide Memorial
Emancipation Day
Ethnic Role Models
[see Roster of the RI Heritage Hall of Fame]
Role Model to come
Role Model to come