Preservation and the Cultivation of Community — the Root of the Armenian Community in Los Angeles.
Within the mosaic of cultures in Los Angeles, Armenians stand as a testament to preservation, resilience, and heritage. Armenian-Americans have found intricate ways to preserve their rich culture and safeguard century old traditions, while also creating a large and strong sense of community. As an Armenian-American born in Los Angeles, I will analyze the interplay between cultural preservation and cultivation of community within the Armenian diaspora in Los Angeles.
Armenian culture in Los Angeles is deeply rooted in everyday life practices. These practices not only stem from love for the Armenian culture, but from fear of losing it. Armenian-Angelenos, like myself, have made conscious efforts to incorporate culture into our daily routines and decisions; decisions that can range from things as simple as where we choose to eat to things as instrumental as who we select to marry.
The fear of losing our cultural footprint is an integral part of the Armenian experience. Armenia has a beautiful yet traumatic past, and Armenians are particularly haunted by the memory of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. As a result of the genocide, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were massacred. The genocide also served as a catalyst for a series of multiple forced displacements. As Aaron Schrank notes in the Laist, “Just 3 million Armenians live in Armenia. Another 8 million live elsewhere around the world.” Those who survived the genocide had to seek refuge and build new lives elsewhere, and many arrived in Los Angeles, where they found both sanctuary and economic opportunity. “When people are forced to live outside of their country, they can easily just eventually disappear, forget their language, forget their culture. To us, as Armenians, it’s really important that that doesn’t happen,” Sirabionian said.
One notable way in which Armenians have preserved their traditions, is through their food, and the growing network of Armenian restaurants in the city. One of the most popular restaurants, Raffi’s Place, employs a Michelin trained chef, and serves a delicious mix of Persian Armenian dishes. Another popular restaurant, Carousel, as pictured in the image, is frequented by the infamous Kardashian family, and offers Lebanese Armenian food. By dining at these establishments, Armenians and non-Amrenians alike can savor the tastes of Armenia and foster an appreciation for Armenian cuisine.
Language, religion, and education also play a pivotal role in cultural preservation. There are currently 13 Armenian schools in the Los Angeles area, and many of them are directly affiliated with their local Armenian church. I attended one of these schools, Armenian Mesrobian School, which is the first to have been established, from preschool through 12th grade, and was not only privileged with a quality education, but with the opportunity to take courses in Armenian language, Armenian History, and Armenian Current Affairs, even traveling to Armenia to further cultivate an educational and cultural connection. I take pride in being what is considered a “lifer” at my school, and for being bilingual in Armenian, speaking, reading, and writing the Armenian language fluently. The picture below is of my brother and I. My brother is also a lifer, and now in the 12th grade.
Attending an Armenian school, however, is more than just learning the language and celebrating the culture. It is also about the lifelong bonds that students make with one another and their teachers, which are almost familial in nature. Although I graduated from high school three years ago, I still regularly volunteer at my alma mater, visit with my former teachers and friends, and advocate for what we consider the “Armenian Cause,” recognition for the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide.
Cultural preservation through language is also evident in the names that we carry. Armenian last names are distinct with many of them ending in “ian” or “yan.” A namesake is not only significant for its identification purposes, but also because of its linkage to a particular family and potential historical significance. My last name, for example, stems from a royal bloodline, with the Arshagouni family being one of Armenia’s former reigning dynasties.
As a college student now, in an non-Armenian school, I find myself seeking out other Armenians, often using their names as a guide. Additionally, it is with great pride that I acknowledge that USC now has an Armenian Institute along with Armenian classes and other Armenian-based student organizations. Armenians are somehow seemingly drawn to one another, and knowing that there are other Armenians around me helps me to feel grounded and safe. As Sirabionian said, “Some people might feel like it’s xenophobic: Armenians just want to be with other Armenians; they have their own schools. But that’s not what it’s about. It’s about keeping a culture alive that’s otherwise dying.”
The lineage of the Armenian name, perhaps, is also what inspires Armenians to marry within their race. The recent phenomenon of the Armenian dating show, pictured below, was dedicated specifically to Armenian singles marrying other Armenian singles within the Los Angeles Armenian community. This show was a testament to the collective effort to strengthen ties, as well as to the role of family and community in Armenian relationships. The show matched couples who were believed to be compatible, and created a space where they could connect over their Armenian identity. In many of the episodes, the couples went on dates to popular Armenian restaurants, learned to make traditional Armenian food, and even met each other’s families.
Despite multiple displacements and attempts at ethnic cleansing, Armenians have continued to thrive by finding one another, passing on recipes and sharing dishes, and building churches and schools. The need for preservation has led to the cultivation of one of the most tightly knit and strong communities in the Armenian diaspora. The interconnectedness of the community is something that Los Angeles Armenians pride themselves on, and the places that Armenians gather foster a communal spirit of togetherness. Armenian restaurants, for example, are a hub where Armenians can dine on Armenian food in an ambiance of Armenian music and decor. Armenian schools, further, are an epicenter for cultural immersion. As William Saroyan said, “Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a new Armenia.”
Work cited:
Abrams, Margaret. “This Is Kim Kardashian’s Favorite Armenian Restaurant.” Observer, 31 Oct. 2017, https://observer.com/2017/10/kim-kardashian-birthday-armenian-restaurant-la/#:~:text=This%20Is%20Kim%20Kardashian%27s%20Favorite%20Armenian%20Restaurant&text=Most%20of%20the%20Kardashian%20family,the%20Armenian%20fare%20is%20authentic.
Apelian, Vahe H. “Saroyan’s Popular but Nonsensical Quote.” Keghart, 9 Jan. 2014, https://keghart.org/saroyans-popular-but-nonsensical-quote/
Kifner, John. “Armenian Genocide of 1915: An Overview.” The New York Times, 7 Dec. 2007,https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/ref/timestopics/topics_armeniangenocide.html?simple=True
Habeshian, Sareen. “Clinging to Identity.” The Armenian Weekly, 20 Sept. 2018, https://armenianweekly.com/2018/09/20/clinging-to-identity/
Harris , Jenn. “The Story behind Raffi’s Place, and Some of the Best Koobideh Kebabs in Glendale.” Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2018, www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-fo-re-raffis-place-20180321-story.html
Ohanesian, Liz. “This Armenian Dating Show Doubles as a Lesson in Geopolitics and Culture.” KCET, 22 Apr. 2022, www.kcet.org/shows/artbound/armenian-dating-show
Schrank, Aaron. “What Does It Mean to Be Armenian? Among LA’s Diaspora, an Ongoing Search for Identity.” LAist, 29 May 2019, https://laist.com/news/what-does-it-mean-to-be-armenian-among-las-diaspora-an-ongoing-search-for-identity
