Anti-Italianism

William J. Connell holds the Joseph M. and Geraldine C. La Motta Chair in Italian Studies at Seton Hall University.  He has published numerous books on Italian history.  In 2009 he was elected a Corresponding Fellow of the Deputazione di Storia Patria per la Toscana.  Fred Gardaphé is Distinguished Professor of Literature, CUNY. He is the editor of Italian American Ways; Shades of Black and White: Conflict and Collaboration Between Two Communities; and From the Margin: Writings in Italian Americana, among others.

"From its bold introduction, through its superb research on racism and intelligence testing, to its intensely challenging concluding essay, this stylish collection is by turns deeply historical, movingly, impressively interdisciplinary, and productively combative. United in their themes, but not outlook, the selections offer constant surprises and much food for thought." - David Roediger, Babcock Professor of History, University of Illinois and author of How Race Survived U.S. History "This is one of those very rare books that narrate an important and forgotten story - the experience of American anti-Italianism - and recount it in a rigorous and touching manner, combining historical, sociological and personal perspectives. Italian-Americans must know this story to be aware of how painful it had been for their parents and their grandparents to be accepted and recognized in America. Italians must know it to learn how painful the discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping they are now too often inflicting on immigrants are." - Maurizio Viroli, Professor of Politics, Princeton University "At first blush, anti-Italianism seems like a comic punchline, the premise of a Sopranos or Jersey Girls episode rather than the subject of a serious book. Yet behind the wisecracks about gangsters and 'Guidos' lay a long and complex history - a history of pervasive exclusion and persistent stereotyping, of defiant bravado and habitual self-deprecation. As the contributors to this path-breaking collection show, the history of anti-Italian prejudice has much to tell us not only about the Italian American experience but also about the past and future of America as a whole." - James T. Campbell, Edgar E. Robinson Professor of United States History, Stanford University and author of Middle Passages: African American Journeys to Africa, 1789-2005

• Introduction: Invisible People: Shadows and Light in Italian American Writing; F.GardaphéDarker Aspects of Italian American Prehistory; W.J.Connell'Between White Men and Negroes': The Perception of Southern Italian Immigrants Through the Lens of Italian Lynchings; P.Vellon'Utterly Faithless Specimens': Italians in the Catholic Church in America; P.R.D'AgostinoPerversions of Knowledge: Confronting Racist Ideologies Behind Intelligence Testing; E.G.MessinaFrank Sinatra and Notions of Tolerance: The House I Live In; A.J.TamburriWhat Luigi Basco Taught America About Italian Americans; D.L.Candeloro Affirmative Action for Italian Americans: The City University of New York Story; J.V.ScelsaThe Changing Roles of Italian American Women: Reality vs. Myth; S.Tardi Prejudice and Discrimination: The Italian American Experience Yesterday and Today; S.J.LaGumina'Good Enough': An Italian American Memoir; J.Detore-NakamuraStereotypes Sell; But We're Not For Sale; G.ValleShark Tale: 'Puzza da cap' ': An Attempt at Ethnic Activism; J.KraseIf Defamation Is Serious, Why Don't Italian American Organizations Take It Seriously?; L.LoschiavoTransacting Guido: Contested Meanings of an Italian American Youth Subculture; D.Tricarico