Comments on: Italians in America: from Discrimination to Adoration (or almost)

By: Adrienne DiFranco

Adrienne DiFranco — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 19:18:25 +0000

My mother was born in Udine and came here with her family in 1929. They had it tough. Yes, there was a lot of prejuduce that I experienced in high school from the Irish. But now should anyone even try to discriminate against me I am prepared with the phrase, “Where’s your Roman empire, Renaissance, art music and literature?” I just won’t tolerate it. But no one ever bothers me anymore. And I know of many cases where the Irsh and Italians fell in love, married and created really beautiful. there is no place more beautiful than Italy. But maybe, I’m just prejudiced.

By: katherine leonetti

katherine leonetti — Wed, 05 May 2021 16:44:09 +0000

That’s why even negative stereotypes associated with Italians and Italian-Americans, such as the criminal element, are no longer used derogatorily, but to entertain with irony, a bit like we do in Italy, when we jokingly mock ourselves.

I have reread the above statement you wrote a few times tying to understand why it is ok that Italians are portrayed in negative way. How dare you write this dribble. My family has been at the receiving end of the racial slurs, insults an jokes. I experienced it in school and even at work. I still see Italian racism and hear it . So for you to say its ok is ignorance on your part. Shame on you!!!!

By: Vincenzo

Vincenzo — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 16:24:47 +0000

It’s never published that half of the italian immigrants that came to the US, between 1895 (4 millions)&1915 returned to Italy, the conditions here were horrific. They had left poverty, mainly from an agricultural society only to find filthy, crime ridden, unhealthy ghettos. My family, and I,arrived in July 1956 the ignorance I encountered among not only the so called WASPS, but also second third generations Italian/Americans was astonishing, nine years after my arrival (I was almost 10)I was sent to Vietnam, and in the military I found the same prejudice and ignorance. Nevertheless I’m proud to be a US citizen, my Italian citizenship was taken away by the Italian government in 1972.To this day a Lot of Americans ask about the Mafia, when they find out that I am Italian (genetically I’ll always be Italian &proud to be)Americans always forget that the world, as we know it, is still riding on the coattails of the Italian Renaissance, because before it was the DARK AGES brought on by the northern European tribes! By the way the other half that remained in the USA (1895-1915)MOST would have loved to return to Italy, but were STUCK, for whatever reasons. Most of the Italians of my parents age (who came at the same time as we did)retired or wanted to retire in Italy & why Not?

By: Mia

Mia — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 18:33:54 +0000

I know. I heard the stories. My grandparents came from Avellino,Italy in the late 1800’s

By: Daniel MONICO

Daniel MONICO — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 13:32:38 +0000

It is true that many Italian American people, don t really know what their ancestors went through! This is something that continues to this day against New immigrants to America! Also, don’t believe that when our ancestors came here, they all became citizens! They didn’t! Many could barely read and write their own language! Ellis island just checked for diseases, mainly small pox! If you look into your ancestors history you will see strong parallels to how we are treating immigrants now! My grandfather Guido MONICO, left his job as a coal miner in Dupont, Pa. For fear of being murdered like his brother in law! He came to Linden, NJ, always carrying a loaded weapon! It was, get this, Irish Catholics that murdered my great uncle! They were angry because they felt Italians were taking their jobs! They wouldn’t let them in their churches! It is very important to know how Americans have treated immigrants and to learn from it! Many people don’t know that so many derogatory tterms we still use today, we’re first used against Italian American immigrants! Spic, wop (without papers) , wetbacks, dagos, guineas, gavone and other terms were and are still used! Please don’t treat any immigrants like that!!!

By: Judy bowen Romano

Judy bowen Romano — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 13:18:50 +0000

Love reading historical facts about the struggles of our forefathers

By: Gerri Barsotti

Gerri Barsotti — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 00:54:30 +0000

There is one point I want to elaborate on that was stated in this newsclipping. Yes, Italians did come to this country like other nationalities. But the point is, THEY CAME HERE LEGALLY. Many that come from our southern neighbor do not come here legallay, even though they do work hard (Those that are not criminally inspired). So I just want to give my relatives the justice that they are due. They worked very hard, sometimes having 3 jobs and never cried discrimination. Their goal was to prove that they could get ahead by their own respect.

By: Christine Pellegrino

Christine Pellegrino — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 19:46:32 +0000

How dare you say as the author italians have forgotten thier history and treat immigrants like we were treated? How dare you say stereotypes in movies are ok?

By: B. White

B. White — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 19:51:46 +0000

I agree with the comments. Italian-Americans still face bias. Movies continue to show Italians as mobsters, when there are other more powerful mobster groups than what is left of the skeletal Mafia. We are not represented per our population in Ivy league colleges (which could be a good thing). Most telling, was a poll taken when former President Obama was first running for president. Former NYC Mayor Guiliani was also running that year. The poll indicated that more people were accepting of an African-American president than an Italian-American president. Italians were interned during WWII but they never received reparations like those of Japanese ethnicity.

By: Connie Streitz

Connie Streitz — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 14:23:38 +0000

I grew up in an Italian neighborhood with all my relatives (cousins, etc.) within a couple of blocks. My Dad & Grandmom came through Ellis Island when he was 8. My mother was born in the US and was the top of her Academic Class at Glassboro High School. Graduating from High School was a very unusual because many times Italian girls quit school after 6th grade and work in the sewing factories. My Dad worked 3 jobs when I was young and finally made it to Postmaster from his start as a Sub., working at Owens Illinois and starting his own bicycle shop (pre big box stores). He was a life-long learner and reader and made his life successfully via investments in the stock market as well as his working all the time. My mother was loved by her teachers, but they also clued her in that even if she became a High School teacher she could not get a teaching job in Glassboro, because they wouldn’t hire an Italian. Mom was the story teller in our family and this is why our knowledge and appreciation of the Italian history was kept alive. I try to keep alive the story with grandchildren and nieces etc. Studies show that children who are told their families stories end up being better students. We had many advantages as we grew up in Glassboro, NJ and the most important was LOVE in our hardoworking and loving family.
Thank you Justin for a wonderful piece. I have printed it and will share it with my grand daughter and the family.

By: FirstN LastN

FirstN LastN — Thu, 28 May 2020 23:30:11 +0000

In reply to Rose.

That is good point. I never thought of that…. Andrew Cuomo lost the opportunity to be the first!

By: Rose

Rose — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:18:43 +0000

Oh please! The media still only portrays Italians as Buffoons, Bimbos and Criminals. If you are successful or powerful you must have mob ties! How many Italian American Presidents have we had since the first wave of immigration? No one is ever enraged by this form or discrimination however.

By: lorenzo

lorenzo — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 15:08:56 +0000

>from discrimination to (almost) adoration!

clearly not in universities.

Italian american are more underrepresented then blacks and hispanic in elite colleges…please check some empirical data, the fact that american love pizza dont translate into acceptance where it really matter.

By: Miklyn Marie Provenzano

Miklyn Marie Provenzano — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 03:48:32 +0000

Speak for yourself! The hate towards Italians is very evident in Houston Texas still today. Just born in the wrong region I guess.