Contours of White Ethnicity: Popular Ethnography and the Making of Usable Pasts in Greek America

Front Matter

C o n t o u r s o f W h i t e E t h n i c i t y Yiorgos Anagnostou Contours of White Ethnicity Ohio University Press Athens Popular Ethnography and the Making of Usable Pasts in Greek America Ohio University Press,Athens, Ohio 45701 www.ohioswallow.com© 2009 by Ohio University Press All rights reserved To obtain permission to quote, reprint, or otherwise reproduce or distribute material from Ohio University Press publications, please contact our rights and permissions department at (740) 593-1154 or (740) 593-4536 (fax). Printed in the United States ofAmerica Ohio University Press books are printed on acid-free paper ƒ ™ 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Anagnostou,Yiorgos. Contours of white ethnicity : popular ethnography and the making of usable pasts in GreekAmerica /YiorgosAnagnostou. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8214-1820-8 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-8214-1821-5 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. GreekAmericans—Ethnic identity. 2. Whites—Race identity—United States. I. Title. E184.G7A53 2009 305.809—dc22 2009038443 In memoriam Eleni Anagnostou (1930–2007) What more appropriate image for the art of criticism: the tightly closed fist, the open and relaxed hand?The one concerned with defining boundaries, passing judgment, inflicting punishment; the other with presenting the subject sympathetically, pushing beyond boundaries, a predilection for appreciation and praise. Contrary to what might be assumed, it is far easier for the critic to revile than to reveal; to deride and dismiss than to illuminate. —Joyce Carol Oates ...