“An Italian I” “Italian Values” are integral to the story Im telling of Tony and Bella. By sustaining their culture, beliefs, and sense “of family,” Italians added to America’s diversity-- adding zest, vivacity, and a sense of their own pioneering spirit. Three young men from a family I knew were given a purse of money from relatives and came to Central New York. These young Italians walked for over 40 miles, looking for land they could afford. They found it in Fulton, north of Syracuse, for $3.50 an acre, house, barn and farm animals included. Two of them settled there. Their two unmarried sisters were sent from Italy to work on the farm. The third brother found muck land in Canastota he could purchase—ugly, muddy and damp. Italian farmers now describe this as ‘Black Gold.” Central New York muck is the world’s best land for growing vegetables...and famous onions! By the time Italy was reunited and restored as a kingdom in 1870, it had the highest population density in Europe, the fewest natural resources, almost no industry or transportation facilities, and extreme poverty. France closed its markets to Italian products, the country faced extreme poverty. “Chi esce riesce” was a prevailing proverb—“He who leaves succeeds.” Recruiters came to Italy to find workers who in America became the Giovannis come lately--after Germans, Poles, and Irish. Their working traits did not endear them to persons competing for the same jobs: Italian men were hardy, hardworking, eager, willing to work long hours under hard conditions for lower wages and they stuck together. I read a description of them in a very old Syracuse newspaper: “The hot rays of the summer sun don’t seem to bother them at all. Italians don’t get drunk and into fights like others. They’ll work for $1.25 a day and with their simple, largely vegetarian diet, can save money.” Although practically everyone who came to America did so to escape persecution or poverty, America was not then a welcoming melting pot. Italians were reminded of this in not subtle ways. An unkind slur might be: “Well, the Irish at least can speak English.” This is the environment for Tony’s and Bella’s story that continues tomorrow and is real.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 02:50:31 +0000
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