essay

Beyond the 'Godfather' image: the role of Italian-Americans in the development of America

italian americans through the generations • Staten Island, New York • Published In 1986 • Pages: 157-168

By: Alessandrini, Anthony Peter.

Abstract
The central theme of this paper is '…to show that generations of Italian-Americans can resolve their contradictory feelings about their ITALO-AMERICANITA only by learning about the whole Italian-American experience' (p. 157). Italian American history, according to Alessandrini, goes back several centuries before the recent period of migration to the United States and is intertwined in America with roots of the development of the new nation. The development of that experience and the realization of its importance had been increasingly obscured by the rise of the rather negative 'Godfather' image that emphasizes the more recent past and neglects much earlier history.
Subjects
Reviews and critiques
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Ethos
Cultural identity and pride
Literature
culture
Italian Americans
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
North America
Sub Region
Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Types
Historian
Indigenous Person
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 1991
Field Date
No date
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
United States
Notes
[by] Anthony Peter Alessandrini
Includes bibliography
LCSH
Italian Americans