BOOK NOTES: Updated book on "Ukrainians in America" (08/04/96)

BOOK NOTES: Updated book on "Ukrainians in America"

by Roman G. Golash

"Ukrainians in America" by Dr. Myron Kuropas published this year by Lerner Publications is an excellent addition to the earlier work "The Ukrainian Americans." This most recent book is only 80 pages and filled with pictures and maps. It makes a great gift for friends who know little about Ukraine and our community in the United States.

Dr. Kuropas manages to tell a compelling story about our communities in America, essentially the evolution of "hromadas" through the years. As the author describes our experiences in the States, he also captures key historical developments in Ukraine. This connection allows the reader to grasp the essence of our community. It also helps to explain why we are, who we are.

Do we realize that the Ukrainian community in the U.S. represents only 0.3 percent of the total population? Yet, members of our community became involved and excelled in every aspect of American life. We built churches, organized fraternal insurance societies, youth groups and language schools. Our parents taught us about Ukraine to make us better Americans. Many fought and died for America knowing perhaps better than others the importance of freedom.

By reading this book one also gets a deeper understanding of what Ukraine has had to endure. The maps portray the changing boundaries, but also underline how often Ukraine was occupied. What happened in Ukraine impacted the Ukrainian communities here. For example, on the same page you see pictures depicting the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine and Ukrainian Americans demonstrators commemorating the 50th anniversary of the famine. On the following page you see a picture of Ukrainian immigrants taking the oath to become citizens. Throughout the book, you see a weaving of histories and its impact.

Religion was important in Ukraine and so it is here. The community held on to our religions even if there was undue pressures to assimilate here. Parents taught us Ukrainian; now many of us are military linguists taking frequent trips to Ukraine. The book is a history of how the Ukrainian communities managed to maintain Ukrainian culture and simultaneously integrate ourselves into American life. We joined the military, we became politically involved on the state and federal level.

The author became an assistant to President Gerald Ford. Currently, my friend Walter Dudycz is a state senator in the Illinois legislature. There are many more, too numerous to count. Suffice to say, we get involved.

Every home should have this book. It's full of pictures, it's a great book to give to friends and to your children. I wish I had this book when I was preparing for "matura." To get this book call (815) 758-6897.

Copies of this book are available for $12.95 plus $2.05 postage and handling from Ukrainian Educational Associates, 107 Ilehamwood Drive, DeKalb, IL 60115.

| Home Page |