The Journey Of The Italians In America

The influence of Italians in American cuisine, industry, sports, entertainment, and language is profound. Using photographs to illustrate more than a century of Italian experiences in the United States, the author provides an intimate and informed glimpse into the history of prejudice, hardship, celebration, and success faced by this rich Mediterranean people. A celebration of common men and women alongside notable Italian American celebrities and public figures, this book is a cultural photo album.--From publisher description.

“This immigration story is universal.” —School Library Journal, Starred Dan Yaccarino’s great-grandfather arrived at Ellis Island with a small shovel and his parents’ good advice: “Work hard, but remember to enjoy life, and never forget your family.” With simple text and warm, colorful illustrations, Yaccarino recounts how the little shovel was passed down through four generations of this Italian-American family—along with the good advice. It’s a story that will have kids asking their parents and grandparents: Where did we come from? How did our family make the journey all the way to America? “A shovel is just a shovel, but in Dan Yaccarino’s hands it becomes a way to dig deep into the past and honor all those who helped make us who we are.” —Eric Rohmann, winner of the Caldecott Medal for My Friend Rabbit “All the Way to America is a charmer. Yaccarino’s heartwarming story rings clearly with truth, good cheer, and love.” —Tomie dePaola, winner of a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona

Using interviews and photographs, Anthony Riccio provides a vital supplement to our understanding of the Italian immigrant experience in the United States. In conversations around kitchen tables and in social clubs, members of New Haven's Italian American community evoke the rhythms of the streets and the pulse of life in the old ethnic neighborhoods. They describe the events that shaped the twentieth century—the Spanish Flu pandemic, the Great Depression, and World War II—along with the private histories of immigrant women who toiled under terrible working conditions in New Haven's shirt factories, who sacrificed dreams of education and careers for the economic well-being of their families. This is a compelling social, cultural, and political history of a vibrant immigrant community.

This richly researched, beautifully illustrated volume illuminates an important, overlooked part of American history. From extensive archival materials and interviews with well-known Italian Americans, Maria Laurino strips away stereotypes and nostalgia to tell the complicated, centuries-long story of the true Italian-American experience. Looking beyond the familiar Little Italys and stereotypes fostered by The Godfather and The Sopranos, Laurino reveals surprising, fascinating lives: Italian-Americans working on sugar-cane plantations in Louisiana to those who were lynched in New Orleans; the banker who helped rebuild San Francisco after the great earthquake; families interned as “enemy aliens” in World War II. From anarchist radicals to “Rosie the Riveter” to Nancy Pelosi, Andrew Cuomo, and Bill de Blasio; from traditional artisans to rebel songsters like Frank Sinatra, Dion, Madonna, and Lady Gaga, this book is both exploration and celebration of the rich legacy of Italian-American life. Readers can discover the history chronologically, chapter by chapter, or serendipitously by exploring the trove of supplemental materials. These include interviews, newspaper clippings, period documents, and photographs that bring the history to life.

This book takes readers on a journey from the shores of Italy to the urban centers of America, exploring the transformative period of Italian immigration history. It aims to examine the monumental impact Italian immigrants had on the fabric of American life. The book begins by portraying the courage and resilience required for over 4 million Italians to leave behind everything familiar and seek better prospects across the Atlantic between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The book highlights the difficult times faced by Italian immigrants. It describes the treacherous voyages they endured in cramped ships, as well as the confusion and hostility that often greeted them upon arrival at U.S. ports. This section reveals the prejudice Italian immigrants faced in their search for housing and employment. The book then delves into the fundamental contributions Italians made to the development of America. It depicts how Italian culture-from food, fashion, faith, music, language, and values-became permanently woven into the fabric of American life. This section honors the roles of Italian Americans in building infrastructure, serving in the military, starting businesses, shaping politics, and more. Ultimately, the book shows how Italian immigrants and their descendants embraced the opportunities of their new homeland while proudly preserving traditions from their motherland. Through adversity and triumph, they cultivated a distinct Italian-American identity that embodies the best of both worlds.

At the height of migration from Italy, children were recruited under the Padrone system and brought to North America to work as shoeshiners, musicians, and even acrobats. This interesting account is highlighted with full-color artwork and eyewitness accounts. Detailed maps show where they settled and how their traditions are still celebrated today.