Source: http://www.pickatrail.com/jupiter/location/europe/italy/potenza.html
Being a fourth generation Italian-American, it is difficult to imagine the struggles that my great-grandparents had to overcome to become permanent residents in this country. It seems ridiculous that my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Rotunno, could possibly think that the streets of America were paved with gold. She immigrated to the United States on July 18, 1910, from Potenza, Italy with nothing more than the clothes she was wearing. She wanted nothing more than to be an “American.”
My great-grandmother endured a long physical screening at Ellis Island to confirm that she was in good health and not carrying a contagious disease that could potentially harm the American population. Once Elizabeth Rotunno was permitted to remain in the United States, along with many other Southern Italians, she made her permanent residence in downtown Manhattan and she lived a tenement house. She immediately began her assimilation into American culture. She was determined to learn English and become as Americanized as possible. Elizabeth began to work in the domestic field, cleaning various homes throughout the city. In less than three years, Elizabeth met her future husband, Joseph Manzo who was a second generation Italian-American and owned a barbershop. They were very poor and soon moved into a one room flat to raise their four daughters. They used the one coat that each of them owned to cover themselves while they slept. Basic necessities such as toilet paper and shoes were scarce. Her children only completed school up to the eighth grade. Elizabeth forced her children to speak only English in an effort to be more American and she, too, only spoke English inside of her house.
Second generation grandmother, third generation mother, and fourth generation- me! celebrating Christmas in New York City.
Ultimately, my great-grandmother focused solely on surviving. Her leisure time was minimal and her political participation did not extend beyond voting. Because of their low levels of education, political struggles around the world were not something that my great-grandmother and her children could easily understand. Even today, when I speak with my grandmother, it is easy to see the influence that her immigration history has had on her. My grandmother recognizes the existence of only one country and one language, the United States of America and English. When she watches the news and hears about the political struggles occurring around the world, she frequently comments things such as, “Who cares about what’s going on in Egypt?” This Italian immigrant wanted more than anything to assimilate into American culture and pledged allegiance solely to America.
Different from many immigrants residing in the United States today, I am a descendant of an Italian immigrant, yet I do not speak the native language of my ancestors and have assimilated so much into American culture that I am not familiar with the customs and traditions of my great-grandmother’s home country. Even though I have no memories, I am a fourth generation Italian-American. Unlike my grandmother, I have no memories of how life as an immigrant was. However, I am fortunate that my ancestors struggled through the long and rough immigration process and successfully assimilated into American society. Elizabeth Rotunno’s descendants, like me, are now able to effortlessly enjoy the opportunities that America has to offer.
