The Greeks in the USA

The Greek community in the USA traces its roots in Florida in 1768. Since then, although usually under hardship, they succeeded in creating a community of prominence, a community of enterprising spirit, a community which puts emphasis on improvement through education.The largest communities are in the states of New York, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, close to industrial areas. Although most of those who immigrated in the period from 1900 to 1930 (when we had the highest migrating rates) started by doing menial jobs, soon enough they managed to establish their own businesses, especially restaurants, groceries and laundry shops. Great emphasis is placed on education and approximately 20% of the young Greek-Americans continue with University studies. Many Universities offer courses in Greek studies and there are many Institutes that concentrate on Ancient or Modern language and culture studies.

On a community level, the efforts to maintain and encourage the ties with the Greek culture concentrate mainly on the Church, which plays the role of the connecting element with the metropolis. Many television channels, newspapers and magazines, transmit the news from Greece creating a very important link to the contemporary Greek historical experience. The distance between the motherland and the new country contributes to the diminishing of the interest to encourage the teaching of the Greek language and, when it takes place in English speaking schools, it is limited and part of the weekend activities. The repatriation rates are lower than those in Canada or Australia and the success rates are higher. Many first or second-generation Greek-Americans hold high governmental offices, University positions, they are prominent cultural and intellectual figures and enjoy the respect and admiration of the American community.