Italian-Americans and Discrimination

Discrimination in America has mainly publicized certain races, such as African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Middle Eastern, and even Asians. One race that is rarely publicized for its discrimination in America is the Italian Americans.
Many are unaware of the discrimination that Italian Immigrants had to face during their first wave to America, and even today. During their earliest times in America, labor struggles were forced upon them. Just like today with the Mexicans coming to America to make money for their loved ones back home, Italians traveled across seas to make a living to send home to their families. And just like today, many felt the Italians stole jobs away because they were willing to work for the lowest wages. This was only the beginning of Anti-Italianism discrimination in America (Salvatore J., 1999).
Labor struggles were not the only fire the Italian Immigrants had to deal with. According to La’Gumina, during the first years of Italian Immigration they had to face many conflicts such as virulent prejudice, and nativist hostility (p. 22). Beginning with Ellis Island, although less then two percent of Italians were turned away, if an Italian had a small trace of an illness such as trachoma they were to return to Italy. As stated in La’Gumina’s Documentary, to many Italians of the time Ellis Island was renamed L’Isola dell Lagrime—the Island of Tears (p. 43). However, even those who made it through successfully dealt with many conflicts of Ellis Island. Many did not speak English, hence the regulations were confusing, many people were disoriented, unsure of what to do or where to go. Each individual person arriving in the States had to be entered by name into the official registry book, and due to the f...

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...s Goodfellas, The Godfather and Casino put Italians in the spotlight of the common Anti-Heroes of cinema. However, there are still prejudice assumptions being slandered against the Italians today. Reality shows such as Jersey Shore have defined Italians for other races, and greatly insults the Italian-American community. The oppression Italians have had to deal with throughout decades are not as publicized as others, but it has happened, and even continues to happen today.

Works Cited

Billington, J. H. Congress, Immigration History (2014). Immigrants-italians. Retrieved from Library of Congress website: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/italian.html

Salvatore J., L. (1999). Wop! a documentary history of anti-italian discrimination in the united states. (pp. 1-165). New York: Straight Arrow Books.