The ANNOTICO Report

All major Italian American national and regional organizations gathered for the first public screening of the documentary “Anti-Italianism”. 513 years after Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas, the Italian community rediscovers itself and moves  forward.

New Jersey – An enthusiastic and surprisingly large crowd attended the first screening of the documentary “Anti-Italianism: Discrimination and Defamation in the History of Italian Americans,” directed and produced by Paul Budline for the Charles and Joan Alberto Italian Studies Institute. It was a memorable night, full of emotions and memories.

 “Anti-Italianism” is a 30-minute documentary filmed in December 2004 at an international conference organized by the Alberto Italian Studies Institute of Seton Hall University. The film, featuring Joe Piscopo among others, presents incisive discussions of a history of discrimination that included lynching and racial bigotry, and of the social and psychological effects of present-day stereotyping in the media.  The film is a major step forward in creating greater awareness and understanding of how Italians have been perceived in the U.S. historically, and of the obstacles they have overcome.

In American history, Italian immigrants experienced many forms of discrimination that were distinct from the traditional cases of prejudice against newcomers, and were fueled by different motivations and manifestations. Notwithstanding their documented accomplishments in American society, Italian Americans continue to experience ethnic slurs and episodes of violence.

“Many Italians have thought that the best thing is simply ignore this and to try to get along in American society,” says William Connell, Executive Producer of the documentary and organizer of the 2004 conference, “but from my perspective as a historian, it seems that this tolerance just permits these phenomena to continue, while it has also resulted in a great deal of ignorance about the extent of this important history and the unfortunate ways in which it survives today.”

“Anti-Italianism” also documents in an engaging way the ongoing efforts of Italian Americans to confront media and Hollywood stereotyping. With the help of the Anti-Bias Committee of UNICO National under the leadership of Manny Alfano and the New Jersey Italian American Heritage Commission, the Alberto Institute this past year was able to hold the first major academic conference devoted to the history of discrimination against Italian Americans.

On this occasion Charles and Joan Alberto were presented with the Mille Grazie Award of UNICO National's Anti-Bias Committee. To recognize its sponsors and supporters, the Alberto Institute also presented UNICO with 500 copies of the DVD for distribution to chapters and members. In addition, 500 copies will go to the New Jersey Italian and Italian-American Heritage Commission, in appreciation of their support. The copies will be distributed to each school district in the State of New Jersey. Additional gifts will be presented to Order of Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and! to the Columbus Citizens Foundation.

The DVD is directed and produced by Emmy award-winning Paul Budline for the Charles and Joan Alberto Italian Studies Institute at Seton Hall University. Executive Producer: William J. Connell. For additional information and to order a DVD, please contact Dr. Connell at (973) 275 2928.

Press contact: Daniela Puglielli, Accent PR (908) 212 7846
Daniela Puglielli <daniela@accentpr.com>