Czechast: Czech-Americans and US elections

About 1.5 million Americans identify with their Czech roots. The US Presidential election divided them as much as the rest of the country.

Czechast does not normally feature guests who comment on current events. However, we’ve just witnessed a truly historic election in the United States—one that saw Donald Trump make an unprecedented political comeback. Ignoring it from a Czech perspective seems impossible. According to the most recent U.S. Census, around a million and a half Americans identify with their Czech roots, and while there aren’t specific figures on how they voted, this community appears just as divided as the country as a whole.

Julie Urbišová|Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

So, Czechast first reached out to Julie Urbišová, a journalist and mother living in New Orleans, Louisiana, who has made a new home in the U.S. while keeping her Czech heritage close. Julie shares her thoughts on what this election means for her and her family:

“What we have here is a threat. For me, it is Donald Trump being an example for my children. The way he speaks, the way he speaks about minorities, about immigrants—that’s something we shouldn’t have as the highest authority in the state.”

Czech compatriots in Texas|Photo: Pavel Novak, Czech Radio

Thanks to Czech Radio’s correspondent in the United States, Pavel Novák, Czechast also brings you an interview with George Matcek from Houston, Texas. George’s Czech—or more precisely, Moravian—ancestors settled in Texas three generations ago, and he met his wife in Brno back in the 1990s, giving his Czech-American story a unique transatlantic dimension. When asked who he thinks has the better plan to address America’s economic and social challenges, George shares his view without hesitation:

“Clearly, Trump does, because he has a plan. I have not heard much of a plan from his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.”

To bring you closer to the authentic voices within the Czech-American community, this episode of Czechast features interviews with two people who offer perspectives from both sides.