PBS IMMIGRATION SERIES SPARKS SPIRITED DISCUSSION AT OUR MARCH 29 MEETING

AMHS’ second program of the year featured a very interesting discussion on March 29, 2015, on the recent PBS series on the early immigration of Italians to America entitled “The Italian Americans.” Carmine’s in Penn Quarter was the setting and everyone had a chance to socialize with their friends over a glass of wine before enjoying a delicious lunch. We were very pleased to have as our moderator the President of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), John Viola, who led the discussion after we watched some film clips from the series which had been narrated by actor Stanley Tucci. John was introduced by AMHS President Maria D’Andrea, who noted that John was an educator from Brooklyn who built a career in community leadership and development and who was elected president of NIAF in March 2013. In Brooklyn, John ran a non-profit education reform organization, where he created programs to foster the teaching of the Italian language to young Italian-Americans. Maria gave a brief history of AMHS’ relationship with NIAF on the joint scholarship program which dates back to 2006. This year’s check for $4,000 was handed to Gabriella Mileti, Director of Programs, by Maria together with AMHS Scholarship Committee members including Dick DiBuono (chairman), Peter Bell, Ray Bernero, Lourdes Tinajero and Ray LaVerghetta.

We were also pleased to have two other representatives of NIAF: Stephanie Gordon, Executive Assistant to the President, and Matthew DiMenna, Director of Fund Development. At the beginning of our discussion, John told us that occasions such as this are “the best part of my job” - traveling all over to promote our heritage. He noted that viewership on PBS for the series was 47% higher than usual, which he said bodes well for getting funding for similar follow-up programming. In fact, John noted that a sequel to the PBS series is definitely under consideration. John explained that NIAF first got involved with WETA and series director John Maggio about a year and a half ago.

AMHS member Joe Novello said he wondered why there wasn’t more focus on immigrant success stories, such as Enrico Fermi for example. John responded that the time limit of 4 hours meant that the focus had to be on the overall community rather than more individual success stories. He added that the fact is that it’s hard to condense all the stories and that’s a good thing, and speaks to the richness of the immigrant experience. A couple of attendees said they felt that the mafia influence was overstated, and AMHS Immediate Past President Dick DiBuono commented that the mafia was not discussed in the small towns in Massachusetts where his family settled.

But AMHS member Kirstin Keppel, who spoke favorably about the PBS series, said it was a little different in the big cities, and she remembers her grandmother talking about “la mano nera” (the black hand). AMHS member Nancy Coviello, whose family emigrated from Basilicata, also said she had a generally positive opinion of the series. She said growing up in New Jersey in the 1970’s, she remembers well how her parents talked about Joe DiMaggio, and how Frank Sinatra was a superstar. AMHS Board member Lynn Sorbara also had positive comments, and she commended NIAF for promoting the series to make our history more widely known. Lynn, whose family came from Sicily and settled in New York City in Little Italy and then Queens, said that when she did her undergraduate work at a Jewish institution in New York, she came to realize that Jewish people know their history very well, so why don’t we?

AMHS member Deno Reed, whose parents emigrated from Calabria, noted that just like the duality noted in the PBS series, his parents were quiet outside their house. Outside the front door you were American and spoke English, and he remembers he felt a certain amount of prejudice in public schools. John commented that we need to remember that history during the current debate on immigration. AMHS President Emeritus Lucio D’Andrea said he thought that a lot more needs to be said, and John told us that NIAF just went to San Francisco to discuss “Chapter 2” with the network. The plan is for two one-hour pieces every year, working with John Maggio and some young filmmakers. There is certainly a lot more to be said, as everyone agreed.

AMHS Board member Peter Bell noted that he learned about Italian influence in the labor unions which the series touched on, but there is more of that story that needs to be told. And AMHS member Claudia Bagliere spoke movingly of being considered an enemy alien during World War II because she was born in Italy, despite being married to an American soldier. At the conclusion of the program, Maria showed a beautiful mosaic made by AMHS member Antonio Bianchini.

It took Antonio a month to make the mosaic of the ship Leonardo da Vinci which brought him here in 1965. Antonio’s artistic training in Ravenna surely showed in this colorful, beautifully detailed work of art. We would like to give special thanks to Hospitality Chair Lynn Sorbara for arranging the wonderful lunch at Carmine’s. And of course our heartfelt thanks to John Viola and our other NIAF guests. Grazie mille!!