Polish Americans

For more than six decades, the Ampol Eagle has been more than a newspaper.

It has been a witness to the life accomplishments, traditions, and changes of Polish Americans in western New York.

As we mark another anniversary of its publication, we celebrate not only the longevity of a newspaper, but also the vision and determination that made it possible.

The story began in 1960 when Buffalo had six Polish language newspapers in circulation.

Following the closing of Everybody's Daily, Matthew W. Pelczynski recognized a changing reality.

Polish remained an important language in many homes, but a growing number of Polish Americans were more comfortable reading English.

What was needed, he believed, was a publication that could unite generations while keeping Polish American heritage at its center.

The pilot issue of the Ampol Eagle appeared in July 1960, followed by a second sample issue in August.

These are, of course, the examples of positive connotations, although there are some that can be negative.

Pierogi started to be perceived as such a symbolic food, a positive one, for Polish cuisine in general and for Polish American ethnicity in the United States.

As I already mentioned, sharing food and commensality are important.

They build and strengthen ethnic identity, and this is one of the most important roles that pierogi play within the contemporary Polonia.

Unfortunately, that's true.

It's like somebody comes up to me and says, you know, I'm an African American or I'm a Polish American or I'm an Irish American.

And I say, fine, go back to Africa, go back to Poland, go back to Ireland.

Because in my eyes, you're either an American who came or whose ancestors came from those places, but it's an absolute impossibility to be an African American, an Irish American, or a Polish American.

You're either an American, or as far as I'm concerned, you're a subversive son of a bitch, and get out of my way.

Correct.

Unfortunately, that's true.

It's like somebody comes up to me and says, you know, I'm an African American or I'm a Polish American or I'm an Irish American.

And I say, fine, go back to Africa, go back to Poland, go back to Ireland.

Because in my eyes, you're either an American who came or whose ancestors came from those places.

Exactly.

Now there's people in this country, they don't want to be an American.

They want to separate themselves and be a Polish American or an Irish American or a Russian American or an African American.

And it's all baloney.