Becoming Americans

Description

Written and produced by John Maggio and narrated by Academy Award-nominated actor Stanley Tucci, “The Italian Americans” explores the evolution of the Italian community, from “outsiders” in the late nineteenth viewed with suspicion and mistrust to some of the most prominent leaders of business, politics and the arts today. This film explores racial discrimination faced by immigrants from 1900 to 1930. In public schools, children were taught to reject their Italian identity to assimilate to American culture. Arturo Giovannitti led the largest labor strike of 1912, winning better working conditions and wages. When Italian Americans were marginalized by the Irish Archdiocese, they took to the streets to reinforce their beliefs and culture. Anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti’s execution reinforced negative stereotypes, while Prohibition bred a new kind of organized criminal. Distributed by PBS distribution.

Runtime

54 min 19 sec

Series

Subjects

Database

Films on Demand

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