Ethnicity in American Political Life-The Italian-American Experience

Abstract

The history of ethnic societies in America has been a mixed record of success when it comes to fostering scholarship concerning national ethnic groups. Italian-Americans have been among the least eminent in this regard. Indeed, one student of immigrant historical societies dis? missed the typical Italian American Historical Society as a stillborn brainchild of history-minded journalists or ambitious politicians. Often a letterhead, a statement of aims and a name in a directory are their only bequests to posterity. One or two have sponsored books that add little to the sum total of historical knowledge.1 In order to correct this serious shortcoming in Italian-American scholarship the American Italian Historical Association came into ex? istence in December, 1966, promoted by scholars in history, sociology and education who are dedicated to an objective appraisal of the history of the Italians in be it favorable or unfavorable. Moreover, the dedication was quickly turned into action. Two years after its founding the Association organized a conference held at Casa Italiana, Columbia University, on October 26, 1968, on a significant aspect of Italian-American history. The topic selected was Ethnicity in American Political Life: The Italian-American Experience. By co? incidence the conference occurred four months after the First National Consultation on Ethnic America, which concluded that America's mul? tiple social probelms will not be resolved unless we all better understand the antipathies which exist between ethnic groups and the general ways