The Kansas Immigrants II

Abstract

The Kansas Immigrants II addresses a number of issues: the efforts of immigrants to assimilate to the larger society while attempting to maintain their own ethnic identity, the occasional violence in the meeting of different cultures in formerly homogeneous communities, and the problem of understanding different family values and lifestyles from one culture to another. It also examines the difficulties in preserving ethnic heritage; the oppression, segregation, and exploitation of ethnic minorities; the contributions of ethnic groups to the arts and cuisine; and the role of the ethnic church or organization in nurturing its members. The first series dealt with immigration to Kansas prior to 1920; the second-year programs dip back in time to pick up a few early topics but concentrate mainly on developments after 1920. Many of the programs feature representative individuals or ethnic communities, for example, Strawberry Hill, a Croatian neighborhood in Kansas City;· Lebanese families in Pittsburg and Wichita; Potawatomi in the Horton area; and Beersheba, a defunct Jewish colony in western Kansas. Many Kansans today are rediscovering their personal and ethnic heritage. In music, art, literature, oral history and genealogy, these individuals are seeking to understand how their heritage has helped shape their lives. This project provides glimpses into the experiences of many of the groups that have peopled this state. Together the fifty-six programs in the two-year series present a comprehensive view of immigration to Kansas.