Andrew Jolivette on GumboLife

This week I have as my guest Dr. Andrew Jolivette, creator of beautiful things, my best friend and wedding officiant.  Andrew, former professor and department chair of American Indian Studies at San Francisco State University (2003-2019) is an accomplished internationally recognized researcher, educator, writer/poet, speaker, socio-cultural critic, and an aspiring chef. He has authored eight books and is currently the Professor, Chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies at University of California San Diego.

Andrew and I have known each other for over twenty years and discussed how at the time we met we were always the youngest in the room. There was not a lot of representation of our generation at Creole events and how social media impacted that so much. We went from being a small group of young people that were dedicated to preserving Creole culture to a much larger group of people that were finding their familial roots and cultural ties. 

 We talked ancestry and cultural pride and how the “What are you” question still pervades and why that matters. Andrew also talks about his definition of Creole and how definitions are different for different people. 

 I am honored to have had my best friend and my brother as my first guest. Andrew is much more than a friend, he’s family and has been there for us through our toughest times. He is giving to his community and to his culture and has done a tremendous amount of work in preserving and promoting the Creole culture.

To find out more about Andrew:

 Email: [e-mail]

Facebook: @Andrew Jolivette

Instagram: @creoleandres

Speakoutnow.org – Andrew Jolivette

 You can also find his literary work on Amazon by searching his name. The most relevant title to this conversation would be Louisiana Creoles: Cultural Recovery and Mixed-Race Native American Identity.