Portrait of a Cajun Family
I sometimes check the keywords that people use to find my site and I always giggle when I see people searching for "What does a Cajun family look like?" I can only imagine what they are thinking.. that we wear torn knee-high jeans, carry fishing poles and wear gator-teeth necklaces? I don’t know..but for those interested, here’s what my Cajun family looks like:
Poodoo background courtesy of Woodmen of the World camp on Elezar in Kaplan
That’s me, my brother Colby, my brother Bennett, my nephew Everette and my oldest brother Chad. Cajun families generally come in two shades — French and Spanish. Judging from the blaring whiteness of my arms, I’d imagine that we’re mostly French. Some Cajun families, such as the Landrys in Breaux Bridge (see Ali Landry), are olive toned and most likely have a heavy Spanish background.
And here’s our Cajun mother and father; both are native Cajun French speakers.
As you can see, we look like many other modern American families… though seeing that I’m 28 and look about 12 in that photo, we may age a little better 
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How’d that Blonde haired young-un get in the mix? Dont worry,my wife is 1/2 Cajun, 1/2 Lebanese, and Ive got dark brown hair bordering on black that my oldest son got from me, yet our youngest son looks like he just came in off the Fjords of Norway and should be named Olaf.Handsome family btw!!
hah actually, all 3 of my brothers had bright blond hair growing up. Even chad. Guess that’s where Everette got it from. I’ve always been a brunette.. with ultra curly hair! I think I was adopted
I am wondering if you you grew up speaking Cajun? Do you speak it as well? Were you and your siblings raised with French as your langue maternelle or even your second language?
Hey Jacquie,
Cajun French was pretty much slapped out of the older generation. The Americans taught them that it was shameful and thus, Cajuns did not teach their kids Cajun French. My mom’s first language is Cajun Frech, as is my dad’s but I grew up only knowing key phrases and words (People say the children speak ‘Cajun English’). Shane Bernard has a great book called “Cajuns: Americanization of a People” that you may find interesting. You can also use the search bar to look for Cajun French and see what comes up.
Chrissy
Can you please tell me what “Our Place” would be in Cajun French? Thanks from Down Under.
Hi,
My name’s Alex, I’m French… we’re some kind of cousins or something.
You could like this link : http://flfa.free.fr/
It’s called France-Louisiane, it organizes many things between France and Louisiana such as concerts, trips and so on.
Hello,
I’d like start by saying thank you for giving us the public information about cajun culture. I find cajun culture unique having its own language right here in the U.S.A.
My Pastor for over forty years once invited his mother to his service in San Jose California in the early 70’s
I remember very well because he spoke to her in cajun french as she sat in the audience I thought that it was nice by the way he is from Crowley Louisiana.
Can cajuns and creoles converse in french I do know that there is a difference.
My last question do you think that the cajun language will ultimately be lost if the next generation do not teach cajun to their children.
Sincerely,
Phil