As a result of my ambiguous looks I am often the victim of mistaken ethnicity. After being told that I fit the physical characteristics of one ethnic background and another time and time again I can only attribute this to the rich multiculturalism that exists on the planet and thrives in the United States, most notably the most diverse city in the world, New York City.
In reality I am half Irish and half Italian. My Irish family members believe that if our lineage was traced back far enough we would find Spanish ancestors, so we consider ourselves “black Irish”. My Italian side is from Southern Italy, Sicily and Naples, and due to the tumultuous history of Italy before unification, a mix of roots including Egyptian, Greek and or Spanish ties, would not be surprising. My Italian half came over on the first great wave in the late 19th century and my Irish grandparents immigrated to America in the late 1950’s after the closing of Ellis Island.
Both of my parents are extremely proud of their heritage and because of this I strongly identify with both sides. My father is Italian and grew up in Gravesend, Brooklyn when it was predominantly Italian while my mom, who is Irish, grew up in an Irish section of Middle Village, Queens. I know all too well the double edged sword of cultural assimilation through my Italian side, which has lost the ability to speak Italian after generations in America. To reconnect with my roots I have studied the language for the past 5 years. Despite this significant loss my parents keep their cultures alive in other ways through continuing various traditions and preserving stories, dishes, and mannerisms previously passed solely through word of mouth.
I am a freshmen at Macaulay Honors College at Hunter, turning 19 this February. I plan to major in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and Romance Languages and will possibly minor in Media. Multiculturalism and globalization has always fascinated me because I have been blessed enough to travel outside the country multiple times and experience the cultures of other peoples throughout my short life. Because of this I look forward to further researching and ultimately teaching others about the various groups who have settled in New York and shape the city’s cultural make up, specifically the Jews of the late 19th century and Mexicans in the present day.
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