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The
following are the first-prize winners of writing contests sponsored by The
Italian American Cultural Foundation—Little Italy Cultural Association of
Ohio. These groups purchase books by and about Italian/Americans and donate
them to high school and college libraries. Students are encouraged to read a
book and respond with book reports or essays. For more information contact:
Mr. Mario Chiudioni, The Italian American Cultural Foundation, 28232
Gilchrist Drive, Euclid, OH 44132; (216) 261–1360. The Prize-Winning Essays were written by: Anna Di
Franco from Mayfield High
School Rose Machor from
Padua High School Comparing and
Contrasting Italian/American Experiences An author who wishes
to write about a certain topic must have knowledge on the origin and facts
contained in the book he plans to write. I feel that Michael La Sorte gives
an excellent depiction of the struggles and accomplishments of the various
characters discussed because of his Italian heritage. In his book, La Merica, La Sorte gives much
attention to the individual. He concludes that much can be learned about the
immigrant by allowing him to tell his own story without unnecessary
interruptions or editing. His data comes from many materials which describe
the lives of Italians prior to their emigration and later, during their first
few years in America. These materials include autobiographies, diaries,
letters, interviews; special attention is given to Italian officials,
journalists, and travels to America. He utilizes the information to tell
about different things in addition to the basic facts. The details enable Mr.
La Sorte to reach the heart and soul of the reader, who can easily relate to
the emotions of the immigrants. The book is divided into six major headings
beginning with “Leaving Italy,” and ending with “Repatriation.” Each chapter
gives actual accounts of the voyagers’ journeys to America, the land of
opportunity and prosperity. Before the immigrant
decided to leave his native land, he had to consider many different factors
that were a major influence in his current life. The family always came
first, and many Italians felt that it was their duty to help the family by
going to America and earning enough money so later the family could join
them. These families had an enormous love for Italy, yet felt that they could
not accomplish much in a poor country without anything to back them up. Some
families only had a small farm to live on, and if this possession was lost
because of heavy taxes or poor soil, then the family would be left with
nothing. Many of the farmers thought that going to America would be the best
thing for them because stories and tales depicted it as a country where money
could be found on the floor unattended. Furthermore, the idea of a place
where personal dreams and hopes could become reality made the desire to
emigrate even more irresistible. Once the immigrant
attained a legal passport, he became the center of attention for weeks
before departure. New clothes were tailored for him, and dinners and special
masses would be held to wish him good luck and a safe trip. Although the trip
would supposedly bring happiness in the future, the initial departure was
very depressing. Mothers cried as they watched a son or husband walk away
from home, while fathers tried to hide their emotions, but cried inside,
telling their sons they were happy for them. Little did the traveler know of
what to expect, and the often horrible ride that was yet to come. Before boarding the
ship, the emigrant encountered thieves that tried to take the little money
they had. Some emigrants were easily deceived by the lure of gambling because
they were blinded by their own greed. If the emigrant was able to steer away
from the initial obstructions, then he could board the boat and continue his
journey. The great majority of Italians going to America traveled in
third-class steerage. These rooms were sometimes below the waterline, where
the air was foul and the accommodations crowded and small. Thus began a
series of hard times unexpected by the travelers. Some of the emigrants found
that the trip was not that bad. They claimed that the food served on the
ship, meat, bread and wine, was just as good, if not better, than the food
served at home. They often stated that the sleeping conditions were average,
just as they had expected of a boat trip. But others were not that satisfied.
Many emigrants suffered from seasickness and restless nights. They found the
food to be unfit for human consumption because of the overabundance of salt
used to preserve the meat. Much of the meat was pushed aside, and often the
emigrant took out his own cheese from home. There was little or no privacy
and nothing to do but pray, sleep, eat, or talk to the other passengers who
all spoke about their expectations of America. If the emigrant had enough
money to travel in second class, he found the conditions to be greatly
improved. The Americans on the boat traveled in second class. They were
exposed to the fresh sea breezes, with only two persons to a cabin. Their
dining room was elegant and their meals were satisfactory. The cabin passengers
were the first to disembark after the ship docked, followed by those in third
class. The doctors came on board and checked the passengers’ eyes and
vaccination certificates that they had received before boarding the ship to
America. If they were told that they had sore
eyes, they were not allowed to leave the ship. They disembarked to the
Barge Office, where they were processed quickly and quietly, with few
formalities. After the formal procedures were finished, the new immigrants
were released onto the streets of New York. Many hesitated to speak to any
stranger to avoid unpleasant situations. The Americans viewed the Italians as
unclean, small foreigners who played the accordion, operated fruit stands,
swept the streets, and worked in the mines or tunnels, on the railroad, or as
bricklayers. Much of this was true because the Italians dominated many of
the jobs that only immigrants would take. They virtually controlled the
macaroni market, sold figurines of famous religious and secular leaders,
operated candy stores, made and sold artificial flowers, and traded retail
fruit. These occupations required versatility, but provided well for the
Italians. On occasion the immigrants had to remind their relatives in Italy
of the sacrifices that they had to make in order to keep the money coming.
Many had to labor night and day to earn money. They often had to reduce
their standard of living to an absolute minimum in order to have a little
extra to send home. Michael La Sorte
gives an excellent depiction of the greenhorn experience by weighing all
sides of the story. I was able to relate to the story because I also am of
Italian descent. My uncle was one of the first in my family to move to
America and find prosperity for my remaining family members in Italy. He
considered the decision to be one of the most difficult that he had ever
made. He wanted to make sure that America was truly a land of opportunity
before anyone else in my family decided to undertake the same voyage. Reading
La Merica gave me a better
awareness of the struggles my ancestors had to make for the benefit of later
generations to come. I have learned a great deal from reading this book. I am
now very grateful for what I have because I know that my happiness was made
possible by those Italians who decided to make that journey. After my uncle
decided that America was O.K., my
mother and another uncle, later joined him here. Various characters in La Merica had similar experiences in
their coming to America. La Sorte discusses in great detail their struggles
and accomplishments, such as the boat ride and the earnings they acquired
from hard labor. La Merica is truly
educational and quite entertaining. Mayfield
High School The Melting Pot and Beyond: Italian Americans in the Year
2000
supplies the reader with information on Italian heritage. It allows the
younger Italian generation to catch up on their roots and find out more about
their cultural background. As a result, they will be able to sympathize with
some of the problems that the Italians faced. They will also be able to
contrast events that occurred in their own lives, and will grow in learning
through the past experiences of the Italians before them. It could also help
the reader realize why the Italians came to America and how and why they were
able to accomplish and achieve notoriety and success in American social and
political life. At the end of the
nineteenth century, many Italians chose to emigrate to America. The
population was growing and the Italian economy simply could not keep up.
There were too many people trying to live off too little. Many people found
it difficult to earn a decent living and thought it would be in their best
interest to go to America where there would be far more opportunities.
However, at their first arrival in America, the Italians were faced with the
problem of a communication gap which caused the formation of Italian communities
in the northeastern states. They still found it necessary to learn the
English language and, eventually, many Italian Americans were introduced to
English and American literature. As a result, some of the greatest
Italian/America poets, novelists, and writers were established. These
included Arturo Giovannitti and Pietro di Donato. Other Italian Americans
were mainly interested in science courses. They were able to take many
college honors courses and eventually they went into the medical field. It took a while for
the Italians to make an impact on America, but with a lot of perseverance and
hard work they accomplished their goals and proved their worth. Two examples
of such success stories are portrayed in the lives of John Pastore and Luigi
DePasquale. John Pastore was an Italian American widely known for his
contributions to politics. His political foundation began at the early age of
nine when his father died and he was forced to take responsibility. This
responsibility included doing household chores and taking care of his four
other siblings. However, the family was able to over come hardships through
their faith in God and through their pride. John’s mother would often say: Make yourself liked; make people respect
you. And that is exactly what John did! He did this by dressing elegantly
and through practicing his speaking. John then became a lawyer and, with the
help of Luigi DePasquale, he won a seat in the Rhode Island State Assembly.
He eventually worked his way up to Senator and then held the position for
twenty-six years. While in the Senate, he made a great name for himself. The other man highly
respected by Italians is Luigi DePasquale. He belonged to the second
generation of Italians Americans born in this country. He was an eminent
lawyer, politician, and judge. At that particular time, the Italians in the
area were associated with the Republican party. DePasquale, however, took a
stance and chose to support the Democrats. While in office, Luigi took
special interested in the problems of Italian Americans; but he was also an
advocate for the rights of African Americans. There was no political advantage
for him to do this, but that did not deter him from doing the right thing. He
did not want cultural or racial differences to divide people or alienate
them. Therefore, he became a spokesman for the rights of oppressed
minorities. Both Pastore and DePasquale have made an impact on America and
its peoples. They have made the biggest impact on the Italians and have set
the greatest example for them. They have demonstrated that anything can be
achieved if a person tries hard enough. Goals can be met and obstacles
overcome if one shows enough determination; thus, bringing recognition and
pride not only to themselves, but also to their families and communities.
Family values and unity not only played a big part in their lives, but
especially in the lives of all Italian Americans. The number one concern in
achieving anything, however, is learning to respect not only the family but
also one’s self. People of this country should not lose sight of the fact
that we are all Americans. By learning to appreciate other ethnic groups,
people will not only understand the differences, but become closer through
similarities. As a member of the
third generation of Italian ancestry, I am proud of my ethnic background and
am trying to make a name for myself. I learned that I am a person secure in
my American background, while being interested and proud of my Italian
lineage. I also learned that I am more likely to take greater advantage of
the education system than earlier generations. While past Italians are known
as practical people involved in skilled or semi-skilled labor, today’s
Italian Americans and the Italian/American community appear to be more aware
of the advantages of attending college and becoming economically mobile.
This, I learned, will bring satisfaction to my parents as well as recognition
to the Italian/American community. My success and achievement not only
reflect upon my parents, but it is also recognized within the
Italian/American community. Therefore, as an
Italian/American student, I am proud I am college
material and able to apply for this scholarship. But, more importantly,
I am proud that as a woman, I no longer represent the particular niche in
Italian/American culture or the cultural roles that women had to follow. I am
glad that there are other alternatives and options. I am proud to be a woman
within the Italian/American community representing Italian ethnicity in the
year 2000—a unique blend of traditional ethnic culture mixed with the culture
of today’s modern society. Padua High
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