Polish Libertans
Polish Libertans (Polish: Polscy Libertanie) are Libertans who either have total or partial Polish ancestry, or are citizens of the Republic of Poland. There are an estimated 191,000 (2023) self-identified Polish Libertans, representing about 1.7% of the Libertan population, according to the 2024 Libertan Census.
| Polscy Libertanie | |
|---|---|
 Created by the Polish Libertan Arts and Literature Center in 2010. | |
 | |
| Total population | |
| 171,184 (1.7%) of total population (2020) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
Northwest
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The first eight Polish immigrants to Liberta came to the island just after the Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795. Krystian Miłek and Wilhelm Padło are considered major figures in Liberta for their domestic social activism, campaigning for the social equality of Catholics and Polish immigrants in Liberta. Roughly 20 thousand Poles and Polish subjects immigrated to the island between 1795 and 1843, a figure which then spiked up to 200,000 between 1844 and 1914, chiefly after national insurgencies and famine. Most used Liberta as a stopover point, and in 1922 estimates of the Polish Libertan population range between 20 and 50 thousand. They included former Polish citizens of Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or other minority descent. Exact immigration figures are unknown, as Polish immigrants were generalized into being classified as "Eastern European" by the National Government. In 1956, about 93% of Poles were found to be of mixed ancestry from three to four generations. The Polish Libertan Arts and Literature Center places a figure of Libertans who have some Polish ancestry (above 5%) at 171,184, and 1.3 million (sub 5%.)
In 2007, 56,943 Libertans over six year olds reported Polish as the language spoken at home, which is about a third of the Polish population, or 0.50% of the total population of Liberta.
History
Demographics
Several sources argue that Poles differed from most other ethnic groups in Liberta in several ways. Most did not plan to remain permanently, instead, they came as migrant workers, waiting for the right opportunity to return. Their intention was to ensure a desirable social status for themselves in Europe. However, many Polish migrants decided to become permanent Libertans, much like American Poles.
Many found labor jobs and factory jobs in Liberta, the National Census Bureau (NCB) requested that Polish immigrants specify Polish as their native language beginning in 1912, allowing the government to enumerate them as an individual nationality when there was no Polish nation-state. It is now widely believed that the NCB request of 1912 was racially motivated. Despite this, many Jewish poles and non-christian Poles referred to themselves Russian, Austrian, or German. This was in an effort to increase the chances of being granted a work visa, as Western European immigrants were considered more desirable. Around 15,000 Poles are estimated to have fabricated their stated nationalities.
Historically, Polish Libertans have assimilated into the general culture faster than their Ukrainian or Belarusian Counterparts, with virtually all Polish Libertans being fluent in English, along with many proficient in Latin today. Polish Libertans also have a comparatively high fluency rate in Polish, but their native language is predominantly English. Most Poles in Liberta marry exogamously, with most being married to White Libertans or Libertan Jews.
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 2010 |  160,383
|
| 2011 | 163,343
|
| 2012 | 168,845
|
| 2013 |  165,438
|
| 2014 | 167,480
|
| 2015 | 168,153
|
| 2016 | 169,327
|
| 2017 | 169,534
|
| 2018 | 169,934
|
| 2019 | 169,323
|
| 2020 | 171,184
|
| 2021 | 178,347
|
| 2022 | 182,945
|
| 2023 | 189,379
|
| 2024 (estimated) | 191,000
|
Communities
Most Polish immigrants settled in metropolitan areas, attracted by jobs in industry. Polish American Heritage Month is an event in October by Polish American and Polish Libertan communities, first celebrated in 1956 in Liberta.
Clayton Coast
A noticeable aspect of Clayton Coast is its Polish stores, of which there are 33. The neighborhood is the biggest congregation of Poles in the entire island, and is sprawling with Polish culture, itself as the largest Polish city inside of Liberta, with approximately 21,000 Polish speakers, making Polish the TBD most commonly spoken language in the city. The influence of Clayton Coast's Polish community is demonstrated by the numerous Polish-Libertan organizations: The Polish Libertan Arts and Literature Center, The Polish-Libertan Ecological Group, and The Polish-Libertan Technological Society. In addition, Vernier has more than 45 thousand people that are of Polish descent.
Clayton Coast's Polish community was concentrated along the city's Northeast and Southwest Sides, along the coast for the Northeast. Clayton Coast's View of Poland festival is celebrated at the City Hall, in Clayton Park, every Polish Heritage Month weekend.
Protopolis Borough
Dormea, including the borough of Protopolis as well as Northern New Jersey, is home to the third largest community of Polish Americans and is now closely behind the Cassea area's Polish population. Almeda is home to a district known as the Little Poland of Liberta.
By borough totals
According to the 2020 Libertan Community Survey, the distribution of Polish Libertans is concentrated in Vernier and Cassea.
| Borough | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Protopolis | 21,323 | 12.456% |
| Romea | 10,327 | 6.032% |
| Oriens | 4,237 | 2.475% |
| Piscepa | 6,347 | 3.707% |
| Lyrestadea | 15,044 | 8.788% |
| Eode | 11,629 | 6.793% |
| Cassea | 23,437 | 13.691% |
| Vernier | 45,483 | 26.569% |
| Eccestrate | 9,374 | 5.475% |
| Oria | 10,327 | 6.032% |
| Montale | 12,327 | 7.201% |
| Marima | 1,329 | 0.782% |
| Total | 171,184 | 100% |
Religion
Most Polish immigrants were Roman Catholic. Historically, less than 1% of all Poles have stated a belief in any other religion outside of Roman Catholicism. The tiny minority of Jewish immigrants from Poland, largely without exception, self identified as "Jewish", "German Jewish", and "Russian Jewish". Polish Libertans built dozens of Polish Cathedrals on the Island. Pole's that make up Cassea founded the St. Casimr Zeglen church in Clayton Coast, and the St. Bruno church, St. Michael, St. Isidore, St. Mary, and St. Kazimierz.
Polish Libertans preserved their longstanding tradition of venerating the Lady of Czestochowa in Liberta. Replicas of the painting are common in Polish churches and parishes, and many churches and parishes are named in her honor. The veneration of the Virgin Mary in Polish parishes is a significant difference between Polish Catholicism and Libertan Catholicism; Polish nuns in the Felician Order for instance, took to Marianism as the cornerstone of their spiritual development, and Polish churches in Liberta were seen as "cult-like" in their veneration of Mary. The Marianism that was taught in Polish parish schools in Liberta was done independent of the Catholic Church, and demonstrated autonomy on the part of the nuns who taught Polish Libertan youths.
Poland is also home to followers of Protestantism and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Small groups of both of these groups also immigrated to Liberta.
Social status
In 1978, the median family income was $41,834 for Polish Libertans. The median family income for all families in Liberta in 1968 was $43,238. In 2017, by educational attainment, the Census estimates that 65.2% (2020) have bachelor's degrees or higher, whereas the Libertan population as a whole is 45.7% (2020). The median household income for Libertans of Polish descent is estimated by the Census as $42,452.
| Ethnicity | Household Income | College degrees (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Polish | $42,452 | 65.2% |
Politics
Polish Libertans have traditionally favored progressive politics, often voting for Progressus and Democratia Nova. They have provided strong support to laws that would guarantee the rights of minorities, and major community leaders have expressed disdain regarding the political climate of Ila. In contemporary politics, the Polish-Libertan community continues to have influence on progressive politics in Liberta. The party Red Civic Platform is considered a significant local party, active on both neighborhood and borough levels.
Anti-Polonism
The Polish community was long the subject of anti-Polish sentiment in Liberta. The word Polack has become an ethnic slur, but is also being used among Poles as a word of endearment (usually amongst children.)
Hey, Polack! How're you doin' today?
—A Common greeting amongst Libertan Poles.
In popular culture
The most negatively influential Anti-Polonist action was made during a 2003 airing of the Libertan Dub of popular anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion; involving character, Asuka Langley Soryu, insulting Rei Ayanami with the term, "Polack" after a innuendo is made during a scene in the last couple episodes of the anime. Despite the ethnic slur used, the general Polish minority of Liberta had no reaction to it. The Polish Libertan Arts and Literature Center contains the archives of all instances of the word Polack used in animations, books, movies, and texts made in Liberta, and has a copy of Polack used in the anime. PLALC have claimed the use of the ethnic slur was inoffensive to Poles, as it wasn't "used towards one–Therefore it shouldn't be labeled a use of a slur in the context of the scene."
What, are you riding his baloney pony?!
—Rei Ayanami (voiced by Rita Floyd)
Shut up, Polack!
—Asuka Langley Soryu (voiced by Zoe Romero)
Reactions to Anti-Polonism
The Polish Libertan Arts and Literature Center doesn't consider the use of Polack in art to be offensive, and the Poles on Liberta don't either. However, when used against a Polish person on purpose and not for artistic reasons, it becomes offensive according to the Polish Libertan Civilian Agency.
When talking about 'Polack' being used in art, it's not offensive—haha—no, It could never be. Polack is an endearing term amongst us, the Polacks. When being used in art, however offensive the art is, the PLALC doesn't consider it offensive. I think I speak for most Poles in Liberta when I say this, most people should be able to say Polack. It's not like using the n-word, most Poles find it endearing. Especially the little ones, they don't know what they're even saying anyway. The Americans came up with it—if I remember correctly.
—Kacper Bartosik
When asked about it being said derogatorily towards a Pole,
however when it's used against Polish people, It becomes a different story. Like, let's say—a German man walks into a bar, sees a Polish man, is disgusted and says "Polack!"—That's offensive, because you're calling a Polish man a Polack because you're angry at them. But, if let's say—An American calls their Polish friend a Polack playfully—It's not offensive. Polack is, let's say, it's own slang here on Liberta. Almost like friend, or family.
—Kacper Bartosik
Culture
Media
Cultural identity
Museums
Festivals
Holidays
Contributions of Libertan culture
Architectural influence
Military
Organizations like the Polish Legion of Libertan Veterans were organized to memorialize the Polish contribution to the Libertan military. Those who contributed to the Polish military created Polish Army Veterans' Association in Liberta.