Southern Italians – Life in Italy1. Family is most importanta. They don’t pay attention to anything elseb. Only institutionc. Religion and government are not important2. Trust NO ONEa. Everyone’s an enemy but familyb. Only listen to head of family: person who holds most powerc. Hang out with their family only3. Honora. Men worry everyday about offending anybodyb. Vendetta: if you/your family does something wrong to another person or family and now they hate each other i. Ex: Romeo and Julietii. Vendettas make them violentc. Females honor their family by marrying someone importanti. Marriage is not for love but for logical reasons like moneyii. Dynastic marriage linking of two familiesiii. Not married until they have sex: consummation of marriageiv. Only married if blood is found on sheets because that marks the fact that she was a virginv. Some people who know they aren’t going to bleed (because they were sexually abused or sexually active prior) go into the nunnerySouthern Italian Religion• Angry at the church because they are peasants to the Pope who is filthy rich• Believe anything Catholic (non-Institutional) just don’t go to church• Organized religion is too political• Practice religion at homeo Virgin Mary, Saints, Rosaryo Shrine: small alter with statues, rosary, candles, etc. to prayo Believe in magic• Have an issue with other Catholics like IrishSouthern Italians – 2nd Wave• Why they lefto Overpopulation, natural disasters, taxes (tithe)• Why they cameo Industrial Revolution: big, huge factory work Makes everything fast and cheap Low pay We send over head hunters to recruit workers• Money?o None o Chain Migration (at first) not effective; switched to Return Migrationo Send over family basedo Only went to stay for 5 years (sojourners)o 1880 – 70% return home; 1920 – 10% return homeo In the end, they end up using Chain Migration to bring entire family overSouthern Italians in America• 5 milliono Because they’re bringing their whole family before 1921 (40 years)• Locationo Ethnic enclaves: Little Italy New York next to Five Points Boston next to Southie• 1880-1900: work anf family (return migration phase – single males)o Padrone: guy from your village (anchor immigrant) helps other southern Italians find jobs and such because he knows English Does It for moneyo Mutual Aid Societies: how men organize themselves/ set up families Family groups with men deciding what they need in America More long term than padrone Almost like a fraternity• About 500 in NYCo Tenements Start ethnic enclave Once chain migration starts with women and children, can’t live in these because they need their own home outside of tenement with a bunch of single men• 1900-1920: work and family – chain migrationo Sweat shops (women) Women didn’t want to be stuck inside tenement Men make them stay inside (even for bathroom) Sweat shops: working inside tenement (no ventilation = hot) Eventually thought children could do this (prior to 5; after 5, they go to the factories; school isn’t important)o Women and children want change Men call them whores for wanting to assimilate Families start to break aparto Mafia (mafia myth) Already believe violent from vendettas Mafia” mutual aid society for Sicily• Not organized crime for any group: just Southern Italianso Wasps beliefs First: say Southern Italians are the ones who bring organized crime to America• all Southern Italians are not involved in Mafia• only .002% involved Second: all organized crime in America is from Southern Italian• It’s not the largest, richest, or even deadliest organized crimeStereotypes of Italian in Media1. Mafiaa. All Italians in Mafia (remember North and South are very different)-1940s and beyond……..2. Blue Collar Worka. Skilled but not highly educatedb. Plumber, electrician, contractori. Train with master worker who is typically fatherii. Keeps business in familyc. At age 14, girls put back in home and boys become apprenticesd. A way to keep culture3. Change in imagea. Sinatra i. Loved being Italian/his cultureii. Romanceb. Joe DiMaggioi. Baseballc. Rosie the Riveteri. Political cartoonii. Face of women in factory during WWIIItalians Today• 16 million Americans claim background today (6%)• Behind Spanish, 2nd most popular language in America• Little Italy’s in every major city• Huge difference of those who live in ethnic enclaves and those who don’to Those who don’t have assimilated• Keep immigrating• Still difference in Northern and Southern ItaliansImmigration Restriction Laws• What caused restrictionso Nativism/ Xenophobia Huge by 1920s Afraid losing powero Numbers of new Immigrants Million per year New: don’t like or understand• How many are coming?o Ellis Island: where immigrants go to get counted so know who’s coming in and how manyo 1982-1954o Immigrant processing centero 12 million are processed but not necessarily allowed to entero Class based system 1st and 2nd stay in nice cabins and get questioned little Steerage has to leave boat to get processed and are left behind• Worst experience• Don’t speak English – no translators at first• Sometimes names are changed because of misspellings Tested to make sure no diseases• If have any disease, given an “x” and must return home• All immigrants must have round trip ticket• Turn in round trip ticket for moneyThe Laws1. The Quota Acts: all about origins of immigrantsa. Immigration Act f 1921i. 357,000b. Immigration Act of 1924i. Aka Johnson Reed or National Origins Act ii. 164,000c. Both actsi. Look for skilled peopleii. Neighbors exempt from these lawsiii. Certain expectationsEnd of Quotas• Lyndon Baines Johnson overhauled Immigration I 1965o President wanted to make it equalo Increase quota and make it equalo Passed Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 Put everyone on equal footing Family reunification is key policy 290,000 limit a year; no more than 20,000 per country including neighbors Question of illegals Lasted until 1990Hispanic Mosaic-Definition1. Region of Hispanic countries-Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, South America2. Spanish influence3. Mixture of 3 cultures-Spanish, Indigenous (Indian/Natives), Africa4. Religion: catholic5. Language Mexicans• 1st group weren’t immigrants but victims to U.S. expansionSpanish Colonization• Spain colonizes
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