For my first cousin once removed and my first cousin-in-law
once removed1
and their children,
my first cousins twice removed2
20th century
"mixed" marriage![]() Felix Cizewski and Anna Maria Cizewski, June 14, 1947. |
Anna
Maria Cizewski (nee Ennina Maria Lovetere), my
late mother, was the daughter of Sicilian
immigrants. In 1920s Chicago her family suffered housing discrimination because of their ethnicity. When she was old enough to work she suffered employment discrimination again because of her ethnicity and aggravated by Italy’s declaration of war on the U.S. in World War II. When my mother married a son of Polish immigrants, some of his relative objected as they did not consider Sicilians "white" and viewed them as "colored". Hurtful and cruel things were said to my mother. After her marriage, she continued to encounter housing discrimination. Mom never let these negatives make her bitter or angry nor did they harden her heart. Mom prohibited ethnic slurs in our household. Her great-nephew, my first cousin once removed1 married an African-American woman. They chose to have a small wedding with a very limited number of close friends and immediate family. Mom was pleased. Without realizing it, her great-nephew and his new wife had shielded themselves from some of the same relatives who were cruel to my mother when she was married. In other contexts, they had continued to use hurtful words. Mom expected them to behave the same at her great-nephew’s wedding as they did at hers. Mom did not feel her great-nephew and bride should suffer the pain she did. Compared to others in her family and that time in our society and culture, Mom's attitudes were far advanced. My ability to view race and ethnicity as variations on our shared humanity was formed from a range of influences, perhaps most significantly late my mother. 1 First cousin once removed: Our shared ancestor is my grandfather who is their great-grandfather. 2 First cousins twice removed: Our shared ancestor is my grandfather who is their great-great-grandfather. |
21st century "mixed"
marriage![]() Shena (Glenn) and Mark Schuth |
<< Anna Maria Cizewski
(nee Ennina Maria Lovetere) INDEX: Cizewski, Lovetere, Musbach, & Robinson Families History |
|||
© 2011 - 2012 Leonard H. Cizewski Last Updated: November 16, 2012 Posted:May 17, 2012 Last Reviewed: |
|