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Nedda Elewa
Dr. Hudson
HON 1000 The City
11 October 2016
A Lesson Learned From My Polish Ancestor
I have a confession. My Polish heritage has never been a point of pride in my life. When I
was in elementary school, I would not let my mother put kielbasa, or Polish sausage, in my lunch
(Godwin). Outside of my family, I was knows as Agnes, and not Agnieska, because I was
ashamed of my foreign-sounding name. However, something changed when my mother
handed me a letter from a great ancestor who migrated to the United States following the war in
Poland in 1863 (Siemiradzke). In this letter, I was shocked to learn about the struggles Poles
faced and the challenges they overcame throughout the journey from Europe to America. I was
forced to critically evaluate the role of early Polish immigrants in my life, and this led to a very
important realization. The Polish identity that I felt so insecure about was the very same culture
that immigrants like my ancestors brought to America decades ago and used to shape the cities
they populated. Through Nadzia Nowackis letter, which I have included below, I learned that not
only did Polish Americans work very hard to keep their national spirit alive in America through
organizations such as the Polish National Alliance, but Polish women were driven to make a
mark on their new social and political circles, all of which sparked a curiosity in my mind that I
had never felt before.
***

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I am writing this letter in hopes that one day, somehow, it will be passed down to a future
loved one. I have so much pride in telling the story of Polonia, or the Polish American
community, and I pray that this sentiment is not lost throughout future generations (Pula 25).
I would like to start the story in Poland, pre-1863. The Russians were viciously invading
our beautiful motherland. We were facing war, political oppression, and economic persecution. It
was truly no way to live a comfortable life. That is when my father, may God bless his soul,
risked it all and moved our family to America. Through this migration, he was not only seeking,
freedom from the oppressors, but as well a better opportunity for some useful and honest
occupation, which he quickly found in the city of Detroit (Siemiradzke).
When we first arrived in Detroit, Poles took up what most considered dirty work. This
fueled the unfortunate reputation that Polish immigrants were unsanitary, hard drinking,
domestic abusers (Godwin). However, the stereotyping seemed to be a right of passage. Most
new migrant groups faced similar discrimination from the groups that came before them in our
case, it was the Irish who bettered their image at the expense of ours. Fortunately, this all
changed, and very rapidly, might I add. Poles began working in positions that require[ed] rare
mechanical skill (Godwin). In Detroit, they, became steelworkers, meatpackers, miners, and,
later, autoworkers (Jones 479). Even sooner than this, however, immigrants were establishing
Polonia, and its distinct culture became increasingly apparent.
Polish Americans were the largest single ethnic group to migrate to the United States
(Martelle 86). With our help, the Catholic Church expanded all throughout the city of Detroit.
Although we contributed immensely to Detroits urban form, or in other words, the layout,
structure, and dynamic of the city, this point is one that I am particularly prideful of. The
religious centers that we built in the city not only served Polonia, but they also served locals and

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immigrants who had come before us. In addition to assimilating to the American culture, we
transported elements of our beautiful country that were adopted by others in the city (Martelle
86).
Speaking of our communities and our contributions to Detroits urban form, they were
unprecedented, to say the least. We made it a priority to preserve our customs and keep national
spirits alive. Twice weekly, a farmers market of sorts was set up where we could buy, live
fowls, vegetables, fruits, flowers, textiles, toys, and so much more, just like we did in Poland
(Godwin). Many drug stores were operated by Polish immigrants and sold traditional herbal
remedies. With very modest origins, Poles opened restaurants and bakeries. However, this never
took away from the variety, quality, and authenticity of their goods (Godwin).
Most Americans were thoroughly impressed. The strength of the Polish national
movement took them by surprise. The Polish National Alliance (PNA), with its membership of
eighty thousand plus individuals, spoke volumes about our presence in the city. The numbers
could have spoken for themselves, but our actions are what really left a lasting impact on
surrounding communities. Of the various aims of the PNA, a few included paying the benefits of
the sick, fostering a Polish-American spirit, establishing committees to aid Polish refugees, and
securing employment for needy workers. Through this, we demonstrated to the American people
that Polonia was self-sufficient. As I previously mentioned, our right of passage was to face
discrimination based upon false stereotypes. Through this, however, we never abandoned our
culture. Instead we remained steadfast in our faith, we adapted to our new land by recreating
traditional practices, and we gained the respect and acceptance of our hosts (Greunel).
Before I conclude, I must touch upon one last item. For if there is any chance that this
letter falls into the hands of a young girl, you must understand the strength of Polish women. My

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role models are Stefania Chmieliska and Ernestine L. Rose, both of which have played a pivotal
role in history. Chmieliska was the founder of the Polish Womens Alliance (PWA) (Versteegh
79). Although the PNA held honorable aims, many Polish women were not represented, and thus
did not enjoy the benefits. The PWA filled in these gaps (Versteegh 82). Chmieliska, a Polish
immigrant was very progressive, even for the Americans who had yet to grant suffrage to women
at the time of PWAs inception (Versteegh 79). Rose, however, went one step further. She, a
Polish immigrant as well, fought for the representation of all American women in politics.
Through her efforts, married women [were] permitted to own property in their own rights
(Stewart).
I believe it goes without saying that the Polish presence in and its contributions to Detroit
are unmatched. Of course I cannot speak on the future, but I hope the good we brought to the city
continues to be celebrated and cherished.
***
After reading Nadzias letter, I could not help but convert my curiosity into an immense
pride in my identity as a Polish American woman. My ancestors were not only caught in the
crossfires of war, forcing them to become displaced, but they were stereotyped and ridiculed for
their cultural background none of which stood in the way of the establishment of Polonia and
the spread of Polish influence in Detroit. Poles who entered the nation reshaped the dynamic of
its cities. They rebuilt a traditional culture that Americans were able to experience and adopt in
some aspects, shifting the perspective towards immigrants. Looking back, I cannot believe I was
ever ashamed of the beauty that lies within the Polish heritage.

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Works Cited
BY, MURRAY GODWIN. "Hamtramck Vs. Ford." The North American Review (1821-1940) 05
1932: 450. ProQuest. Web. 9 Oct. 2016 .
Greunel, John. "POLISH NATIONAL ALLIANCE IN DETROIT AND MICHIGAN." Detroit
Free Press (1858-1922): 1. Jun 10 1906. ProQuest. Web. 9 Oct. 2016 .
Jones, J. Sydney. "Polish Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. Ed. Thomas
Riggs. 3rd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 2014. 477-492. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web.
9 Oct. 2016.
Martelle, Scott. "A Great Migration." Detroit: A Biography. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review, 2012.
85-93. Print.
Pula, James S. Polish American Studies (Chicago, Ill.): Introducing the Polish Experience into
American History. 73 Vol. Polish-American Historical Association, etc, 03/01/2016. Web.
9 Oct. 2016.
SIEMIRADZKE, THOMAS. "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR." Detroit Free Press (1858-1922):
12. Dec 27 1908. ProQuest. Web. 9 Oct. 2016 .
Stewart, Gladys. "KEEPING ALIVE POLISH PATRIOTISM." Detroit Free Press (1858-1922):
1. Sep 15 1918. ProQuest. Web. 9 Oct. 2016 .
Versteegh, Pien. Polish American Studies (Chicago, Ill.): The Power to Organize.69 Vol. PolishAmerican Historical Association, etc, 09/01/2012. Web. 9 Oct. 2016.