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This Appeared in Fra Noi, Chicago IL  December 1999

For some time, I have heard Italian-Americans make light of the negative 
portrayal of our people by the entertainment  industry. They defend ethnic 
humor, stereotyping, Italian mob movies, and Italian-American actors who 
continually portray Italian-Americans as buffoons, bimbos, bums and morons as entertaining. They believe that these offensive portrayals, jokes, movies and 
sitcoms have no effect on the Italian-American image. Italian-Americans even 
go as far as honoring these actors, writers, producers, directors and singers 
at their banquets, events and parades. 

Ironically, many of these organizations were founded to fight defamation and discrimination. There are also the Italian-American columnists, TV talk show hosts and entertainment critics who feel that anything is acceptable if it's well-done, funny or diverting. I'm well aware that other ethnic groups have been and are still portrayed In a negative light. Yet, some of these ethnic groups have succeeded in having the entertainment industry portray them in positive roles, programs and films. 

They have been able to sensitize the industry and the nation to the destructive nature of negative stereotyping and defamation. But not us! For decades Italian-Americans have been portrayed as idiotic, boisterous, violent, unscrupulous and ill-mannered degenerates, with the majority of these offenses being committed by Italian-Americans! These so-called Italian-Americans continue to write, act in, produce and direct outrageous negative depictions of their own kind, while other Italian-Americans support, honor and worship these individuals. 

How can they do this?  What's wrong with these people? 

To use a phrase coined by a proud Italian-American in the entertainment industry, Nick Addeo, president of  Speranza, "They eat their own." When will these Italian-Americans realize that they are exploiting their own community for personal gain? Italian-American actors claim it's not their fault, they're only trying to make a living and we should go after the writers. The writers claim that 
positive scripts about Italian-Americans don't sell. Actors feel they have to 
take these roles in order to make it in the business, and after they've "made 
it" they will have a say in the roles they play. 

If you believe that, I have a bridge I can sell you ... cheap! Italian-Americans in the entertainment business should take the "Defamation Litmus Test" before writing any script, directing any movie or choosing any role. When you are presented with anything that negatively portrays Italian-Americans, substitute a negative portrayal of another ethnic group and ask yourself if the project would fly. If they answer is no, then just say no to the idea, script or part. 

What other ethnic group tolerates what Italian-Americans subject themselves to? Would Spike Lee debase African-Americans? Does Steven Spielberg defame Jewish-Americans? Would Marlon Brando disgrace Native Americans? 

Now ask Italian-Americans such as Coppola, Scorsese, DeVito, Chase, DeNiro, Gandolfini and the Sorvinos if they would debase, defame and disgrace Italian-Americans. The silence is deafening! Many of the above Italian-Americans can make a difference. It's not too late. All I'm asking for is balance. Keep in mind that some Italian-Americans are in the position to create positive roles on television and in the movies. Some are in a position to ask that negative stereotyping be changed and others can just say no to roles that defame us. 

Unfortunately, many of these Italian-Americans and their Italian-American fans are only interested in themselves. The fans, like the ancient Romans, want to be entertained at any cost, even at their own expense. And those in the business want only fame and fortune and are willing to "eat their own" to get it! 

mailto:Eaa097@aol.com - Dr. Emanuele Alfano