Italian Immigration Essay Example

children would engage in tasks such as shoe shining and other small jobs.

Italians experienced institutional discrimination during their mass immigration to America. This was because Americans were becoming weary of immigrants working for low wages and potentially taking away their own jobs. Unions refused to accept Italian workers, and some grocery stores even refused to sell groceries to Italians in the hope that they would leave. The main reason for this discrimination was that Italians had limited opportunities to learn English and adapt to American customs due to their demanding work schedules. As a result, this created animosity among the locals and generated significant tension.

The situation in America regarding Illegal aliens is reminiscent of the situation with Italians in the past. Illegal aliens tend to congregate in a specific area of the city, engaging in low-wage employment and vending fruit along highways. A significant portion of them struggle with English language proficiency and literacy. Both groups encounter prejudiced stereotypes within their workplaces. Strikingly, these two scenarios are more alike than I originally perceived. Italians also endured stereotypes, particularly being linked to organized crime, which persists even today. Such stereotypes further led to Italians experiencing redlining as victims.

The stereotype that Italian neighborhoods are violent and controlled by organized crime makes it very challenging for Italians to find housing in non-poor neighborhoods. This stereotype continues today, with over two-thirds of the 2,000 films analyzed by the Italic Institute of America depicting Italians as part of organized crime. However, FBI statistics reveal that only 3,000 Italians are associated with the "Mafia," meaning that only one in every 6,000 Italian Americans has a link to organized crime.

I feel a

strong connection to both mainstream culture and Italian culture. While I didn't grow up with all the traditions, there are similarities that I can relate to. However, some aspects, like being non-Catholic while most Italians are, don't resonate with me. Growing up in American mainstream culture has had a big impact on me. Embracing both cultures is important as it adds diversity and contributes to the greatness of the United States.

Reference Page
Mintz, S. (2007). Italian Immigration. In Digital History. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
Rapczynski, J. (1999). In The Italian Immigration Experience in America. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
Unknown. (2004). The Story of Italian Immigration. In The Story of Italian Immigration. Retrieved February 12, 2012.