This included the Galleanists, for example, who believed in a violent response to what they saw as capitalist oppression. While it is difficult to determine what percentage of the Italian Americans were Sovversivi, they were more than just a fringe group. The Sovversivi, subversives, were a collection of socialists, communists, and anti-fascists that had immigrated to the United States. It is also claimed that Italians did not try to stop the legal election process. While it may be technically accurate, many Italian Americans supported the overthrow of our government. ![]() I am proud of their strength, their courage, their self-respect. Rather than deny the riotous past of my Italian forbears, I am proud of it. Conditions that we all take for granted today. Frequently Italians, especially Italian women – strong, brave, proud Italian women, took the lead in clawing from the hands of industrialists just compensation for their labor and humane working conditions. With Italians in the lead, they rushed the factories, tore apart the machinery, and threatened death to anyone who dared attempt to start the machines again. One example of this is the Campaign for Bread and Roses in 1912 when immigrant communities banded together to oppose unfair labor practices on the part of textile mill owners. In response to these injustices, we were at the forefront of the American Labor Movement, often turning to riot when pushed too far. The abuse and prejudice Italian Americans suffered when we first came to this country is well known. They did not riot. These four words should anger not just Italian Americans, but anyone who has benefitted from the labor movement. The third claim in the meme I find to be the most egregious. Of course, to give the statement any credibility the caveat “coming into America” was added. Italian Americans proudly display the Italian tri-color alongside the stars and stripes. Go into any Little Italy across the United States. The waving of Italian flags is as common as beans in pasta fazool in most Italian communities. The second claim made in this meme – Legal Italian Immigrants did not wave Italian flags coming into America – is also misleading. The concept of illegal immigration simply did not exist when most Italian immigrants came to the United States. By that time there were already vibrant Italian American communities across the United States, especially in New Orleans, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. However, Ellis Island was just one port of entry that did not even begin operation until 1892. Of course, there is the infamous Ellis Island where many immigrants were sent back. Before this act there was no application process to get into the United States, you simply came. Let us begin with the idea that they were legal. In 1921 the Congress of the United States passed the Emergency Quota Act, establishing immigration quotas. ![]() Some embraced America as their new home, leaving Italy behind others did not.īearing this in mind, we see that the assertions made by the meme are either misleading or simply incorrect. It is, therefore, incorrect to say that Italian immigrants thought this or did that. It was just as true when our people first came to this country as it is today. ![]() This diversity in political thought is integral to Italian culture. For every Nancy Pelosi, there is an Antonin Scalia. For every Rudy Giuliani, there is a Mario Cuomo. There are Italian Americans who are liberal and there are Italian Americans who are conservative. I have found that while both groups display the same Italian lust for life, Italian Americans in the west are less of the stereotype.ĭiversity is also true for Italian American political views. The East Coast, how-ya-doin, Italian American – pejoratively referred to as the guido – is very different from the Italian Americans you will find in San Diego or Sacramento. Compare saltless Florentine bread to sweet Venetian focaccia or the uniqueness of Sardinian casu marzu. It is the same in the United States. If you were to tour Italy, you would quickly learn that Italian culture varies greatly from region to region. It characterizes us as monolithic, all the same. ![]() Beyond the specific claims of the meme, the core problem is an error common to much of the thinking about Italians and Italian Americans.
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