Беларуская
Belarusian
Boerum HillFollowing an initial wave in the 19th century, a substantial number of Belarusians came to the U.S. after the Second World War, including many who had been prisoners of war. Many coming to New York from Belarus have been either Russian or Yiddish speakers, as Belarusian has been spoken primarily in rural areas — so the actual number of Belarusian speakers in New York is unknown, perhaps only a small portion of the 11,000 who list Belarus as their birthplace. Nonetheless, there are strong activist efforts to increase use of the language, not only in Belarus but also in New York.
M
any Belarusians arriving in New York after the Second World War were drawn to the Eastern European matrix, primarily Ukrainian, in what is now considered the East Village. It was this community that helped established the St. Cyril of Turau church in 1950, originally located on East 4th Street before it moved to its current Boerum Hill location in 1957—where it is a magnet for Belarusians across Brooklyn. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, some Belarusians have found a home much further south, near the Russian-speaking world of Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach, where Belarussian Xata was for a while a popular restaurant.
Note that the language above may be used throughout the New York area — this is just one significant site.