A New Generation of Polish-Americans

April 24th, 2009  |  Published in 1st story

photos: E. Kern-Jedrychowska

Feet in 2 WorldsThe history of Poland hasn’t always been pretty. While historians would say the country was born in 966 when its ruler became Christianized, it’s territorial boundries haven’t been well-defined throughout the ages. In fact, from 1795 to 1918, Poland didn’t exist as a nation and the territory was divided among the kingdoms of Prussia, Austria, and Russia. Constantly invaded, partitioned, borders redrawn, and territory occupied, the Poles themselves led a workers’ revolution in the 1980s that threw off the shackles of Soviet-led communism and inspired the world with the word: “Solidarity.” Throughout most of the 20th Century, however, many Poles yearned for the freedom and security of America. But for the younger generation who grew up after the fall of communism, those yearnings of their parents and grandparents just aren’t resonating. From the Feet in Two Worlds radio project, reporter Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska has our story.

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picture-14 A New Generation of Polish-Americans
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