Okay, first of all, this is NOT a photo of any of my family members--but it could be. For as far back as I can remember my grandfather told me how he came to America from Naples, Italy when he was six years old--and how he vividly remembered arriving at Ellis Island and seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time.
A few years after he died, someone told me that the Ellis Island registry was free--that is, you could type in any name and find out information about when they came to New York. (Go to ellisisland.org). What the heck, I thought. It's free. Worth a shot. Not expecting much, I typed in: Mario Balzano, Age 6, Naples Italy.
Within literally seconds, a passenger list appeared. And in my great-grandmother Concetta's handwriting I saw the words: Mario Balzano, Age Six. I learned that they arrived in Ellis Island on May 10, 1915 from Napoli, and the name of their ship was The Duca d'Aosta. Here is a photo of their actual ship (photo courtesy of Ellis Island registry.)
Even though I had heard this story my entire life, it gave me such an odd feeling (a happy one) to see his name listed and actually see the ship and learn a few more details (such as my great-grandmother was only 26; so she had my grandfather when she was 19! Whoa.)
So my family is the first thing I think of when I hear the word "immigrant." I also always find it interesting (and a bit sad) that when my grandfather came here from Italy he felt he had to lose his Italian identity and completely embrace being American. I mean, I get it. And I also "get" when people get annoyed when immigrants don't speak English. But when I finally got to visit to Italy on vacation in 2009, I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of the country and the people. And especially the language! I may be a bit biased but I truly feel Italian must be one of the most beautiful languages in the world. And both my grandparents knew Italian, but never spoke it (except for when they wanted to say something they didn't want me to hear--like where they hid the Christmas presents.) My grandparents truly felt it was an honor and a priviledge to be Americans--"America, love it or leave it,"--and so they immediately tried their best to lose their ethnicity as soon as possible. I guess they believed in that way they were "respecting" America.
America has always been referred to as "the melting pot"--the country where hundreds of different nationalities and cultures are mixed together. And I know it sounds really corny to say this, but seriously, "Why can't we all just get along?" It makes me sad that my grandfather felt he had to give up his Italian identity back then, and it still makes me sad now to think that people are losing their cultures, traditions, etc. for fear of being hated by Americans.
And, yet, and yet...like I said, I GET IT. I get why people are angry when their jobs are taken over by immigrants because they are desperate and will work for less. And also, while I do try to embrace all cultures--(I love to travel, love to try different cuisines, love to hear about various holiday traditions), I do still get that feeling of "kinship" when someone I meet is Italian, and we joke, "What part of the boot?" (Because if you look at the shape of Italy on a map, it looks like a big boot.)
Immigration is such a contested issue, even now. President Obama talked a lot about immigration, and the "Dream Act"--while opponent Mitt Romney spoke in favor of"self-deportation"--really? (I don't want to get political here but that just sounded so wrong.)
So, in short, I'd love to hear more about the history of Italian immigrants, because, well, because it's my history. I'd also like to learn more about Native Americans, because it makes me laugh when people get on their high horse about immigrants. Um, hello? You weren't here first. And finally, I'm also curious to hear how my fellow classmates feel about immigration, because how we feel (and what we teach our children) will ultimately shape the look and the future of America.
7. LISA RAO
Hi Leslie,
Thanks so much for your nice comment. I'm glad you enjoy reading my posts.
Best,
Lisa
02/20/13, 05:00 am
6. LISA RAO
Hi Professor G,
Sorry it's taken me so long to respond; it's been a crazy week at work.
I'm sorry I can't be much help regarding my family history; unfortunately most of the people that could answer your questions are dead! My great-grandparents first came to New York from Italy and settled in what I believe is now Spanish Harlem. (When I was little, my paternal grandparents still lived there, I remember my mom telling me we were going to visit "Nanny 'a-hun sixteen street' (116 street.)" My maternal grandparents had already moved to Throggs Neck. I asked my mom why my grandfather chose Throggs Neck and she shrugged and said my Aunt Lily (my grandmother's sister) had moved there, and my grandmother & grandfather soon followed suit. "The family always stayed together," she said simply. And that is true, my grandmother had four siblings; they all lived in various parts of the Bronx or nearby (Yonkers.) I can only guess that housing was cheap and plentiful. I remember in the early 70's we weren't allowed to play across the street from my grandparents house as there was a huge vacant lot there, full of trash and broken glass, etc. It was a majorly big deal when it was finally cleared away and new housing sprung up. I know when my grandfather bought his home in Throggs Neck in the 1960's he paid roughly $25,000 for it; when my mom sold that house in 2006 it went for $375,000!
02/20/13, 04:57 am
5. LESLIE APONTE
Hello Lisa,
I really enjoy reading your post. You make story telling look so easy, but then again thats what you do.
Great Post!
Leslie
02/13/13, 03:55 am
4. Bradley Gardener
Lisa,
Thanks for the great post and the pictures. That is a quite amazing story about a simple query. I am really intersted in terms of my own research about the Bronx how you or your family ended up where you are now. Where did they live when they first migrated and why did they move around? Also - yes, we have to understand why people are so mad at immigrants - how and why do problems concerning global political economy get pinned on brown skinned migrants? As we build a historical narrative around immigration I hope we can answer this question!
02/10/13, 11:06 pm
3. EDELSON FLORES
Hi Lisa,
Very thoughtful post. Even though the phrase "Why can't we all get along?" can sometimes sound corny it is actually a really great question to stop and think about. As Filipino American growing up in the United States, I have always thought that immigrants were welcomed with open arms. Yet sometimes it seems quit the opposite especially when people complain about immigrants/foreigners taking up all the jobs. It really is a great question to think about, thanks for bringing it up, before reading this post I never really thought about it in the way that you explained.
Edelson Flores
02/09/13, 03:44 am
2. ANGELA ISAAC
Hello Lisa,
Great post! I think you brought up a lot of interesting points, and a wonderful perspective on immigration in the USA. I may also have some family that came in through Ellis Island, and I'm eager to check their records too - thanks for the link! I'm 1/4 Italian, and I love that part of my DNA - it's a beautiful country, language, and culture. My great, great grandparents immigrated from an Italian village in Austria, and they migrated to Texas after arriving in a boat that landed in South America!
Anyway, I'm also following the immigration reform news in the news, because I think it is very important for undocumented Americans to gain a path to being legal, considering all they do for our country, and how many of them didn't really have a choice to come to America. But I also think that we should be strict when it comes to newcomers, who may just come here to take advantage of beating the system. There are a lot of people who have been waiting for a long time and following all the laws, so I think they should be respected too. Thanks for your interesting reflection on this topic!
02/08/13, 11:30 pm
1. BEVERLY WILLIAMS
Wow! Very impressive and very proud of your heritage you must be. As an immgrant myself you touched a nerve. It is interesting to note how important history is. The say if you don't know where you coming from you don't know where you are going holds true to every word.
I must mentioned that I went to Italy in 2010 for a week and wished I could have stayed longer. One of my next trip will be to Italy again..my daughter and I enjoy it emensely. Never noticed the country is shaped like a boot but I do now another thing I learned from your post.
"What part of the boot?"
I also agree immigration is such a sensitive subject especially for those who do not have their green card. This is the melting pot and every body want there share.
I agree with President Obamas action that he is taking at the present time on reforming the brokern immigration process...the name Dream Act is really a good name for the process.
I am Jamaican and came here on a Visa 27 years ago. I worked retentless hours as an immigrant doing odd jobs that I am sure some citizens would not do so immigrants really play a pivatol part in America in the past and currently so self deporation would not be the answer people without a green card...totally agree with you.
I am glad that the dream act or the path to citizenship is in process to help those in need.
I enjoyed reading your entry and wish you best of luck with this and other classes.
02/08/13, 11:30 pm