Italian Americans (Immigrant Experience Series)

The story of the Italians in America is a story of struggle & hope, prejudice & pride, passion & perseverance. With informative text & close to 200 powerful images, Italian Americans: The Immigrant Experience dramatically celebrates the accomplishments of this fascinating immigrant group that numbered more than 4.5 million by 1930. Although Italians have influenced America since the days of the early European explorers, their most significant contributions to the American culture have been made since the great migration of the late nineteenth & early twentieth centuries. Driven by economic hardships & political change, between 1880 & 1924, hundreds of thousands of people boarded ships & traveled across the ocean in search of a new world, where life, they hoped, would be better. Since the great migration, the Italians have assimilated to their adopted country & been transformed by its culture. Yet these people & their descendants have likewise left an indelible mark on America. They helped build the tunnels, bridges, & skyscrapers. They created impressive & important monuments, such as the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., as well as timeless works of art in many media. The Italian character & sensibility are widely recognized in the achievements of well-respected politicians, such as Geraldine Ferrarro, Mario Cuomo, & Fiorello LaGuardia; creative businessmen such as Amadeo Gianninni & Lee Iacocca; talented writers such as Don DeLillo & Mario Puzo; celebrated movie directors Frank Capra, Martin Scorsesse, & Robert DeNiro; & influential athletes & coaches such as Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Vince Lombardi, & Joe Torre. Italian Americans: The Immigrant Experience honors the first generation to come to America--and the generations of their children born here, who keep the traditions & spirit alive. A the first generation of Italian immigrants disappears, many of their stories of the great migration will disappear with them. Their saga--and that of their American-born children--is recorded here in words & images, not only to portray what it meant to be alive during those yeasr, but also to celebrate how America has changed forever because they came.Ben Morreale is the author of 'Italian Americans (Immigrant Experience Series)', published 2000 under ISBN 9780883631263 and ISBN 0883631261.