Personal Narrative: Second-Generation Italian Immigrants

The role in which traditional Italian codes of behavior and attitudes towards the family play in the Italian American immigrant experience represents the dynamic interplay in which a distinct Italian American culture developed as a fusion between Italian and American cultures. From this perspective, the changes occurring in Italian culture, as it integrates into the more dominant mainstream American culture, can provide insights to the Italian American immigrant experience. Contrary to the patriarchal nature of Italian culture, Lucia Santa’s perspective of men as incompetent, commenting how “folly” it was for “men should control the money in the house, have the power to make decisions that decided the fate of infants,” provides an example of the changes within family dynamics as a result of assimilation into American culture (Puzo 27).

But, after a while the immigrants had to adapt to the American culture and they had to follow all

As the family became immersed with the traditions of contemporary American culture, they began to forge conflicting identities and values,

When placing the novel in the context of our course numerous topics are illuminated, such as, how these immigrants attempted to hold onto the values and traditions of their ancestors, how the immigrants faced discrimination and what certain immigrants had to do in order to make a living. The Italian Immigrants migrated to the United States eventually making their way to New York City and in particular the upper east side of Manhattan. This migration to a certain location demonstrates how the Italians felt more comfortable living with one another rather than assimilating into the American culture and living with other ethnic groups. Throughout the novel Orsi provides

Many Italians made the United States their home, but getting to the Land of the Free was not easy for them. Many things made the Italians move from their country, and many things brought them to the United States. They faced many hardships while in the country. They all managed to find work in different areas, and in different time periods. They also left important legacies.

We have conducted some research and an interview about the history of the Italian immigration; their cultural values based off Hofstede’s value orientation; what shapes the identity of Italian Americans; the verbal and nonverbal communication of this cultural group; as well as what conflict management styles are used in this culture, and how they handle conflict.

For me, being an Italian American means that I have come from a long line of hardworking immigrants who came to the United States to make a better life for their children while still maintaining their Italian cultural pride and heritage. From the time that I was a small child, I was taught to be proud of my Italian heritage. From the young age of four or five, I can remember sitting in the kitchen while my grandmother and great-grandmother would be cooking and they would tell me how my great-great grandparents immigrated to the United States from Calabria. They told me how my great-great -grandfather came with little money and could not speak English. He worked in the mines and sold wood on the side in order to make a living. A few

The old stock Americans weren't used to the immigrants and for this reason they thought less of them and oppressed them.  The Italians and other immigrants were blamed for many of the nations problems.  For example, the government led raids on immigrants’ houses because they feared the immigrants were communists.  This was evidenced in the Sacco and Vanzetti trial, when two Italian immigrants were convicted for murder and the prosecution had no real substantial evidence.  They were convicted mainly because of their beliefs, not their actions.  Religious beliefs also brought the immigrants problems.  The KKK was openly anti-Catholic and most of the Italians were catholic.  The immigrants and Italians also helped to bring on prohibition.  The Americans didn't approve of their drinking habits; therefore the prohibition amendment was made for this and other reasons.  Job competition was also a major reason for the racist feelings of the Americans.  Native white workers saw the immigrants as competitors for the jobs that they felt they should have.  A good example of this competition was “birds of passage.”  These were Italian workers who came to work in the U.S. but later returned to Italy with the money they earned in the U.S.  From 1899-1924 3.8 million Italians came to the United States, but 2.1 million left to return to Italy during the same

Italian-American attitudes towards speech not only is representative of their family-orientated culture, but also for the role oral traditions as a medium for providing younger generations the necessary values and beliefs to thrive in what otherwise was a foreign society with different ideologies. Throughout Mount Allegro, Mangione repeatedly talks about the idea of second-generation Italian immigrants being able to speak the parent’s language, or mother tongue, Italian (Mangione 20 and 49-50). His mother, who reinforced the rule of only speaking Italian in the household, emphasizes the importance of being able to communicate in a language shared by everyone in the household: “I don’t want to hear anything but Italian in his house. You will

Since it declared independence from Great Britain in 1776, the United States has been called a land of opportunity for immigrants. Predating the founding of the nation itself, Italians have been drawn to the new world. Starting in 1492 with Christopher Columbus, and even leading up to the American Civil War, Italians have come to this country in search of a new life. However, it was not until the 20th century that Italians, similar to other Europeans and Asians, began to arrive in the United States in waves, and social impact the nation. After the Italians had left economically unstable and famine-ridden Italy, they arrived in America hoping to find a prosperous land. Yet, their idea of life in America got derailed by the way people socially

In the beginning of the 1900’s is when a majority of the Italians came over. The reason was because of how they were being treated, disasters and much more. When they were welcome here they were starting fresh and did not know what they were getting into. Although the boat was not as exciting as it would seem. It was very unhealthy

Italian American and Greek American parents are devoted to raising their children, and caring to them well into their adult years. While the Irish American culture allows their children to move out, prepared or not, the Italian American and Greek American cultures would not do this willingly. The Italian American and Greek American cultures believe that they will not have as much an impact or closeness, and their children could venture into trouble if not advised everyday of their lives. With that being said, Italian American and Greek American children often live in their parent’s homes well into their adult years. What might be surprising to other cultures, especially the Irish American culture, is that even newly married couples are welcomed to live in their in-laws home until they find, or until they can afford, their own home. The Italian American and Greek American cultures are even big on assisting their relatives in finding employment, and this ties into the importance of family businesses, where they will hire and keep their success

The country of Italy is known in history for a number of different reasons. Incredible architecture, outstanding scenery, and the most important they’re wonderful food. When looking at the Italian culture of food, the most wonderful thing to see is how it is passed down from generation to generation. The recipes of an Italian family is like the glue that holds that family together. It brings about the greatest bonds between a family.

As an Italian-American, I was and am still told by my mother, grandparents, and great-grandparents how proud I should be of my heritage. I was taught to respect my great-grandmother who, after arriving in America along side her husband, fully committed herself to raising her four sons and eight nieces and nephews in a two-bedroom house in Pennsylvania. She was motivated by the drive of a better life in a new, strong country for the young-ones she loved. I was taught to treasure both food and family, praying each night through the Blessed Mother. I was handed Pizzelles and Almond cookies as snacks throughout the day, and listened to Dean Martin through the stereo almost every night. My grandmother’s family came from Mezzogiorno, while my grandfather’s family hailed from the North Country. Though I had never been to Italy, as a child, I still knew the significance of being Italian and was thankful. It was not until I entered public school that I began to understand the teasing that my own ethnic group was subject to on a near daily basis.

After experiencing hardships like poverty, a series of natural disasters, civil war and oppression from Northern Italy the Southern Italians started coming to America in flocks between 1876 and 1976. The most concentrated migrations of Italians happened between 1880 and 1920. Italians came to America not to escape these hardships, but to work and send money home to Italy in order to get their families out of poverty. Seventy percent of Italian immigrants were men and less than ten percent of them worked in agriculture, a sign that their stay in America was a temporary one. While here they worked in factories, construction and opened businesses. Coming to America, Italians were faced with racism, poverty, discrimination, corrupt