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2004

THE GRACE AND DISGRACE OF ITALIANS IN AMERICA AS SEEN THROUGH THEIR REAL STORIES
12/05/2004

REAL STORIES: A CONFERENCE ABOUT DISCRIMINATION AND STEREOTYPING IN THE U.S. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ITALIAN AMERICANS
FROM SCARFACE TO THE SOPRANOS, SETON HALL CONFERENCE DEBUNKS POPULAR STEREOTYPES OF ITALIAN AMERICANS. JOE PISCOPO TO MODERATE PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA AND POLITICS
11/04/2004

“Success & Competitive Advantage through Participative Planning”
10/17/2004

“Economic Espionage And Custom-Trades Pact Against Terrorism”
09/20/2004

Global Business Roundtable Goes Wild
08/15/2004

MUSEO DELL’EMIGRAZIONE ITALIANA APRIRA` BATTENTI IN GRANDE STILE IN JERSEY CITY
Al Via La Raccolta Finale Per Pezzi E Memorabilia
06/10/2004

GREAT ITALIAN MUSICAL TRADITION LIVES ON
06/07/2004

CONCERTO DA NON PERDERE AL CARNEGIE HALL
06/07/2004

ANTONELLA’S LONG VOYAGE
Antonella Ruggiero In Concert At The Opening
06/06/2004

IL VIAGGIO DOPO I BAZAR
Antonella Ruggiero In Concerto Alla Serata Di Apertura Del Settimo Festival Internazionale Del Cinema Indipendente A Brooklyn
06/06/2004

Angela Papale: L’insolito Soprano Che Conquista L’America.
Giovane E Promettente Talento Lirico, Torna In Tournée Negli USA.
05/20/2004

The Star Maker. Salvatore Cottone: A Talent Scout In New York
05/15/2004

L'UOMO DELLE STELLE , New York Style
05/15/2004

« GLASS MOVIE / FILM DI VETRO »
THE INITIAL MINUTES FROM AN ENDLESS MOVIE
BY ALESSANDRA TESI
04/12/2004

THE GRACE AND DISGRACE OF ITALIANS IN AMERICA AS SEEN THROUGH THEIR REAL STORIES
Sunday, December 5, 2004

South Orange, NJ - Hundreds of people attended the conference “REAL STORIES: Discrimination and Defamation in the History of Italian Americans”, held on Saturday, December 4, 2004 at Seton Hall University in South Orange (New Jersey). The daylong event focused on five complex topics about Italians in America, concerning newcomer professionals as well as established forth generations: Discrimination and Stereotypes in Italian American History; Stereotypes of Italian Americans Today; Entertainment and the Media; The Political Response; Italian American Organizations.

REAL STORIES, in comparison to past events presented a distinctive historical analysis of the phenomenon. Apparently, Italians in America live a dichotomy or a paradox, if you will: “Made in Italy” is a seal of luxury products and quality that many are ready to pay a fortune to display their status and their good taste in food, fashion, and design. Yet, in the collective perception, the “Italians”, the creators of such artistry and beauty, are mostly depicted as “Bums, bimbos and buffoons,” as strongly stated during an interview at the conference by John Marino of NIAF. Dr. Emanuele Alfano, chairman of the anti-bias group of the UNICO National organization gave accurate references to several cases in contemporary media literature. In a study of DalCerro (Chicago, 1998) on1000 movies from 1930, over 73% of them depicted Italian American characters as buffoons, mobsters, or bigots.
The risks of such portrayals are many: young Italian Americans can interiorize these images, creating a deep lack of self-esteem. But also, Italian Americans can face an economic loss for “accepting” being “different”, or “worthless” compared to other groups. The mystique of the American “melting pot” turns actually to be a “mosaic”, where there is no blend, but the juxtaposition of ethnic groups.

To combat this situation, some suggested starting legal actions for millions of dollars. More reasonably, Italian Americans should collectively embrace the challenge of fighting stereotypes, starting from the wealthy and well-established business community, which should sponsor and lead the change.

Part of the problem could be, as mentioned by Consul General of Italy, Hon. Antonio Bandini, that the migrations after 1870 (the year of the complete unification of Italy with Rome as capital), consisted of people that hardly considered and recognized themselves as “Italians”. In addition, they were mostly illiterate and low-class labor force, very different from the distinguished professional flow of today that still believes in the “American Dream”. Evocative were the words of Roger Marinzoli, Exec. Director of the New Jersey State Italian American Commission: we need a new “Risorgimento”--a new effort to unify the Italians outside of Italy.

Despite the many presentations and the ambitious program, the symposium was an outstanding example of organization, thanks to the careful planning of Professor William Connell, Director of the Alberto Italian Studies Institute and organizer of the event. A 200-page booklet of information and study papers was prepared in advance for all of the attendees. The Alberto Institute will publish a book of essays about discrimination against Italians based on the study papers. And a documentary film about the conference is being produced by Paul Budline Productions of Princeton.

A special treat was the presence of two well-regarded personalities in the movie industry: Joe Piscopo and Tony LoBianco participated in the conference not as movie stars, but as panelists in the session on Entertainment and the Media. They openly discussed the problematical misrepresentation of Italian Americans in films and television. At the conference there were also screenings of two films: "Linciati: Lynching of Italians in America," a superb production of M. Heather Hartley, and an Oscar-winning short film about ethnic prejudice, "The House I Live In," starring Frank Sinatra.

The outcome of this conference might be far greater than the organizers envisioned. “Our goal and our mission” said Connell “was to propose the analysis of the phenomenon from a historical and factual point of view, rather than persist in the usual media battles. Movie stars can provide examples, both positive and negative, and they can draw attention to an issue, but the reason this is a problem is that it affects ordinary Italian Americans. We demonstrated that the image portrayed in today’s media, is not a recent happening or a short -lived phenomenon, but the consequence of a history that goes back several centuries. Furthermore, the problem is not limited to the mafia themes of the movie industry. Situation comedies that are in syndication are often more offensive with their portrayals of Italians as people of loose morals and lesser intelligence.” Cnnell also said that it would be very interesting to follow the example of other ethnic groups that already suffered from in the media but have largely reversed these problems.

Much work remains to be done, but a great deal was accomplished Saturday.
The event was made possible thanks to the generosity of the Joseph and Geraldine La Motta Chair in Italian Studies, the Charles and Joan Alberto Italian Studies Institute, The Anti-Bias Committee of UNICO National, The New Jersey Italian American Heritage Commission, the National Italian American Foundation, the Columbus Citizens Foundation, the Commission for Social Justice of the Order of the Sons of Italy in America, and the American Italian Historical Association. Great thanks are also due to Monsignor Robert Sheeran, President of Seton Hall University, and to the representatives of the Italian government (Consul General in New York, Antonio Bandini and the Vice Consul in Newark, Paolo Toschi) for their warm encouragement, and to the many participants, who came from all over the country and from Canada. The event was well covered by national and regional reporters.

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