German-Americans had secured a place in the community
over the many years that they had grown as a community. Of the younger
men of that group, some fought for abolition and even lost their lives
in the Civil War (Stephenson, 89). It is unfortunate, then, to see historical
records of anti-German sentiment among other Ann Arborites.
| "The homeowners' liberty garden itself grew the much-needed
produce for the family and took up some of the demand in the cities and
towns." |
 |
Sometimes, when American grade-schoolers are instructed
about World War I, the teacher will mention the many ways patriotic citizens
on the home front took part in "the cause." The students ALSO learn how
Anglo-Saxon America de-emphasized the German identity of already commonly-acknowledged
foods of the day. Sauerkraut became "liberty cabbage" and bratwurst evolved
into "liberty sausage," while the homeowners' liberty garden itself grew
the much-needed produce for the family and took up some of the demand in
the cities and towns.
In Ann Arbor, however, a sizable part of the population
identified with Germany; it's hard to imagine the repercussions of even
simple euphemisms on children who were taught the German language in school
and attended German-speaking churches with their parents. Even those children
who were American-born and/or more "assimilated" couldn't help but recall
those family members who had stayed behind in their homeland: grandparents,
cousins, and sometimes siblings. Alas, when non-German citizens picked
up on any such nationalistic feelings, the results materialized in discrimination
and libel: the latter being particularly damaging to the many German-American-owned
businesses (Kalte.) |