Race and the Community - Essay Example

Running Head: RACE AND YOUR COMMUNITY Race and Your Community Carolyn Calabrese of Phoenix Race and Your Community I, Carolyn Calabrese, is proud to say that the Italian American community to which I belong has had a long tradition of notable contributions toward the country’s general advancement. No history of American history will be complete without taking into account the role assumed by this colorful community in the course of many historical events. Yet, there is much misperception and lack of awareness of the true nature of these valuable contributions. In the course of this essay, I shall try to present an accurate portrait of our community and its inextricable presence in the fabric of American society. The period of the Great Depression also saw a huge influx of immigrants from different parts of Europe. Italian nationals were seeking refuge from political persecution and poverty and reached the shores of New England with high hopes. But the conditions prevailing at that time was hostile to its new citizens. The domination by the White Anglo Saxon Protestants (WASP) at that time was uncontested and overwhelming. Though the Italian American community was technically "white" as well, their status was equal to that of black Americans. The trend persisted the following years, culminating during the Second World War, where Italy was at war with America. The civil rights of many Italian Americans were stripped and many innocent citizens were suspected of espionage and subversion. But my grandfather lived to see a positive transformation of this situation after the Second World War. The post War period saw renewed respect for all ethnic minorities given the fact that a significant percentage of armed forces came from the underclass and minorities. (Alba, 1985) As for our own leaders - their take on the situation was a little ambivalent. While blatant societal injustice caused rightful indignation, a corner of their hearts still felt indebted to this "land of the free" for gracefully embracing and welcoming these new citizens from afar. Such feeling for their adopted land is understandable, as my grandfather recollected the stories of persecution and oppression in his native land. (Alba, 1985) Another influential person in our family was our grandmother. Looking back, she was the last link to our ancestral native land. Not only she could speak fluent Italian, but also render an Opera or two. She was also adept at making marinara and rolling gnocchi. I remember how when I was a toddler, she would sing lullabies in Italian to put me to sleep. Much of my knowledge of Christianity is credited to her passing it on to me. She introduced my young mind to such noble souls as Dominic Savio and Francesca Cabrini. In retrospect I can see how my unique upbringing, with aspects of American and Italian culture, has made me more adept at dealing with the challenges of life. So this is a strong argument for encouraging native cultures to flourish within the American context. (NIAF, 2007) But sadly, the vibrant and colorful Italian culture had to be modified to suit the American context. In spite of the successful assimilation of our community there are still sections of society where we are treated as second-class citizens. Statistics of the last decade shows that our community finds proportionate representation in the domains of academia, commerce, politics, etc. The remnants of prejudice against us, it seems, will take longer to reflect these facts. Contributions of Italian Americans for the prosperity and general well-being of this country goes way back. Even during the American Revolution, such brave men as Filipo Mazzei, Leutanant James Bracco and captain Tagliaferra fought alongside Thomas Jefferson. But it has to be admitted that the twenty-first century is a much changed political landscape. The second class citizenship assigned many ethnic minorities, which found its highest expression during the first half of the last century are slowly disappearing. This applies to my community as well. A case in point is Justice Antonin Scalia - an Italian American who had risen to the top post in judiciary. (NIAF, 2007) Role models within our community can be found in abundance in the areas of arts and entertainment too. Pietro di Donato’s Christ in Concrete, published in 1939, is regarded by many critics as one of the important novels of the pre-World War period. Other literary notables include Ed McBain (author of The Black Board Jungle), Gay Talese and Frances Winwar. In the domain of performance arts Italian Americans of repute and reverence include Frank Sinatra, Jon Bon Jovi, etc. Painters such as Ralph Fasanella, Giorgio Cavallon and Costantino Brumidi have added a new dimension to artistic expression. In the arena of sports, stars from our community are too numerous to mention here. Roy Campanella, Vic Raschi, Tommy Lasorda are a few of our outstanding athletes. The success stories of these individuals in diverse fields can act as a source of inspiration for the present generation of Italian Americans, which includes me as well. The cue can be taken from the leaders of our community. Coming from a modest background, Rudi Guiliani, the former New York Mayor is now a contender for American Presidency. Further back in history we have had such illustrious individuals as Ella Grasso, Mario Cuomo and Geraldine Ferraro. On the academic front Michael Parenti stands out for his outspokenness and earnestness. All these people are great success stories and can serve as role models for the Italian American community in years to come. (NIAF, 2007) One of my regrets with our school texts is that the original cultures of ethnic minorities get minimal or no coverage. For example, the original Italian culture, rich as it is with a world renowned cuisine, temperate Mediterranean climate and amicable people finds no mention in social science or history classes. The same is the case with the mainstream media. In the age of commercialized television, substantive and meaningful subjects get bypassed for the sake of profit. And with each passing generation, the chance of retaining these wonderful aspects of our culture gets diminished. Lets take the case of language. I am a third generation Italian and I can hardly speak any Italian. Neither do my parents. Only my grandparents, having lived in Italy during their formative years could converse in it. There is an inherent conflict here. Speaking English is an essential aspect of our American identity. Yet, our inability to remain in touch with our roots raises ambiguity in the way we see ourselves. (Gardaphe, 1996) Another area where I would like to see radical change in our community is in its self-perception. Some sections of our community still linger on to the "clannish" mentality. This might have made sense in the rural atmosphere of southern Italy, but applying it within a different political structure makes no sense. A case in point is the racial scuffles of 1989 in Brooklyn. A gang of Italian American youth murdered a black American in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The motive was believed to be one of racial hatred, which is anachronistic to say the least. This is a prime example of what the "clannish" mentality can result in. This was a repetition of the 1970s brutality against African Americans in Connecticut. What makes these acts unacceptable is the fact that the perpetrators were not condemned by their community leaders. Here is typical "clannishness" at play. Our leaders then, and to an extent now, failed to see the folly of hate crimes between minority communities. During my lifetime, I would like to see a change from this status quo.(NIAF, 2007) Italian Americans have contributed so much in the formation of the American culture. One such contribution is the Italian opera which had now acquired a distinct American flavor. Such luminaries as John Palma were behind the successful integration of an exotic music genre with a new audience. In business too some Italian Americans have made a mark. The foremost personality in this category is Giovanni Gualdo, who was as good with the numbers as with musical instruments. Starting with the Marine Corps Band Italian opera was successfully launched in the United States. Even people of seemingly unrelated vocations took active interest and contributed in many ways for preserving cultural identity through this way. For example, the Italian restaurateur Ferdinardo Palma was also a devoted admirer of opera. Once the initial hurdles were overcome, the genre evolved on its own subsequently. It has been and still is a tradition for Italian singers and composers to orchestrate opera for the American audiences. And I strongly believe that the country as a whole is culturally richer for it. (Gardaphe, 1996) It is estimated that about 21 million Italian Americans live in the United States, which makes them one of the largest ethnic groups in this country. Although most of them live in major cities across the country, so much inequity exists within the group. While we are represented fairly proportionately in all levels of corporations and government, the community still lags behind ethnic groups from the western European nations. Although this condition is not a serious worry in itself, structures will have to be put in place to achieve a point of equilibrium. Statistics also show that Italian Americans are the most targeted for hate crimes among the white ethnic minorities. This pattern of social injustice goes way back in American history. And its high time that we set the record straight. References: 1. First hand experiences of my grandparents as narrated to me are one of the sources. 2. National Italian American Foundation, (2007), www.niaf.org, retrieved on 30th September, 2007. 3. Fred L. Gardaphe, (1996), Italian Signs, American Streets: The Evolution of Italian American Narrative, Duke University Press, 1996. pages : 50-89 4. Alba, R.D, (1985), Italian Americans: Into the Twilight of Ethnicity, Prentice-Hall Publications, pages: 77-102. Read More