From The Peopling of New York City
Italians experienced their share of hardship when they entered New York City. Like immigrants of the “Old Immigration group” they were illiterate and ill prepared for life in the city. In the earliest groups, mostly men immigrated in search of job so that they could send money back home. A lot of them didn’t intend to settle here permanently. Rather they came here to earn some money and then live comfortably in native Italy. Others went back and brought back their spouses and families. Some of these early Italians provided manpower in the city’s construction jobs where they were underpaid and exploited. Others became rag pickers, shoemakers, barbers etc. They preferred to live near the place of their work and for the most part among Italians who spoke the same dialect as they did. [1]
Gradually Italians started to arrive at New York City with families. They couldn’t afford housing of their own and generally took over the houses left abandoned by the Irish and Germans before them. Once here, they again sought the familiarity and comfort of their own people and settled among them. It must be noted that most Italians identified themselves as Sicilians or Venetian or Neapolitan rather than Italians. [2] This huddling together generally put them at an disadvantage because they didn’t come in contact with other groups and ideas and were therefore ignorant about issues like heath, education and importance of learning the English language. For example, most Italians families didn’t think it necessary to send their children to schools. They thought that going to school would alienate the children from the families. [3] They didn’t understand that education could pave the way for a better life. The women in these families were expected to stay home and be a housewife. However, most had to find work because men had low paying jobs. [4]
The later Italians or the Italians entering the United States between 1965 and 1975 had an easier time adjusting than their predecessors. Even though they were not highly educated, they were for the most part better prepared for life in the city. The men were skilled in some profession and the women too found employment in the garment industry or became hairdressers. In addition when they arrived in the city they were welcomed and helped by the larger community. [5]
The earlier Italians took no interest in politics and therefore were not well represented in the city’s political environment. However, later Italians enjoyed the benefits of being employed in the city’s municipal departments due to some of them being elected to city offices. They became teachers, police officers and clerks and several even became commissioners of the city’s wartime agencies after World War II. Gradually Italians went on to pursue higher education and high paying careers. Newer generations were unknown to the hardships suffered by their grandparents who made life in the city better for the newcomers. [6]
Citations
- ↑ Binder, Frederick, and David Reimers. All the Nations Under Heaven(135). New York: Columbia University Press, 1995.
- ↑ Binder, Frederick, and David Reimers. All the Nations Under Heaven(137). New York: Columbia University Press, 1995.
- ↑ Binder, Frederick, and David Reimers. All the Nations Under Heaven(142). New York: Columbia University Press, 1995.
- ↑ Binder, Frederick, and David Reimers. All the Nations Under Heaven(141). New York: Columbia University Press, 1995.
- ↑ Binder, Frederick, and David Reimers. All the Nations Under Heaven(209-210). New York: Columbia University Press, 1995.
- ↑ Binder, Frederick, and David Reimers. All the Nations Under Heaven(202-203, 244). New York: Columbia University Press, 1995.
- Return to Assimilation
- Return to Italians