Monday,
October 23, 2006
"The Humble and the Heroic: Wartime
Italian Americans" by Salvatore LaGumina
The
ANNOTICO Report
"The
Humble and the Heroic: Wartime Italian Americans"
is the most recent publication by Dr. Salvatore LaGumina,
a recognized authority on Italian American history. He has been president of
the American Italian Historical Association, has written dozens of scholarly
articles, and is author, editor or co-editor of seventeen books, and is a
Professor Emeritus of History.
It
asks two basic questions: Was an extra measure of loyalty and patriotism
required of Italian immigrants because the country of their birth was a
declared enemy of their adopted country; and, does their WW II experience offer
meaningful insights as to how we should treat other immigrant groups in future
conflicts?
While the answer
to both questions is in the affirmative, the long, arduous, road traveled by
the ethnic group has not received the attention it deserves. Their quest for
acceptance amidst a path paved with sacrifice, bitter poverty, discrimination,
and, for many, the devastating indignity of being designated as enemy
aliens, is worthy of scholarly study.
"The
Humble and the Heroic: Wartime Italian Americans" reveals both the
extensive patriotic efforts of Italian-American soldiers
and what went on within families behind the headlines of World War
II. He documents how an extra loyalty and patriotism was required of Italian
immigrants during this wartime because their ancestry connected them to a
nation that the
One
of Prof. LaGumina's most
important contributions to date has been "WOP"A Documentary History
of Anti-Italian Discrimination (1999).
"Vito
Marcantino: The People's Politician" (1969) was
another important book about an important man to the common people.
Other
books were: "The Italian American Experience: An Encyclopedia (1999),
"Peripheral Americans" with Frank J. Cavaioli
(1983),
"New York at Mid Century: The Impellitteri Years
(1992), "The Ethnic Dimension in American Society" with Frank J. Cavaioli (1976), From Steerage to Suburb: Long Island
Italians (1989), "immigrants Speak: the Italian Americans Tell their
Story" (1979), and "An Album of the Italian American (1972)
THIS IS WHAT ITALIAN AMERICAN LEADERS SAY:
"This is a
history that was needed for a long time. Now, writing with accuracy and much
acquired wisdom, Sal LaGumina has put it all together
for future generations." - William J. Connell, Professor of
History and La Motta Chair in Italian Studies,
"La Gumina has created a unique pastiche of scholarship and
memoir in this reminiscence of life among those Tom Brokaw called "The
Greatest Generation". Italian
"LaGumina undertakes the momentous task of telling the story
of Italian Americans during a time of anxiety that marked World War II - a
vastly neglected subject. He relates the history a maligned people many of whom
were regarded as enemies --but who nevertheless achieved redemption by dint of
hard work, selfless sacrifice, and astonishing service as they moved beyond the
shadow of suspicion to essential and vital positions within the "greatest
generation. This constitutes a major contribution ."
- John Marino, Senior Manager of Research & Cultural Affairs, National Italian American Foundation
"Dr.
Salvatore LaGumina has written a seminal account of
the Italian American participation in World War II. Comprehensive and readable,
it skillfully weaves personal recollections with concrete historical evidence.
An indispensable must read." - Salvatore Mondello,
Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology
"Dr. LaGumina enlivens our spirits and makes real the great
sacrifices that Italian Americans made for the safety and security of the
world, always asking for little but serving for the cause of democracy. Indeed,
they were heroes of the Great Generation, but they were blessed
additionally as Italians and Italian Americans, with strong family values and a
love for life and family, and a respect. We owe Dr. LaGumina
a debt of gratitude for emblazoning in our hearts and minds the memories and
realities of the early struggles and travails of our grandparents and how their
fruits bore freedom to the world" - Joseph
Sciame, National and New York State Past President,
Order Sons of Italy in America
"La Gumina weaves first-hand accounts of ordinary and
extraordinary Italian Americans with the extensive scholarly research of the
period. Though he is a youth growing up in
"World War
II was a time for testing. Italian Americans represented the largest
nationality group to participate in the war. Despite experiencing
discrimination and prejudice, the sons and daughters of the nearly five million
who came to
"Professor
La Gumina explores the dilemma he and his kin faced
in fighting Fascist Italy at a time when many of their relatives continued to
live in the homeland. Emerging from the Great Depression, his emphasis is on
the social aspects in their struggle to achieve full equality. The volume
furnishes fuller understanding of the Italian American experience. It also
serves as a model for all the newly-arrived immigrants in the Americanization
process." - Dr. Frank J. Cavaioli, Emeritus
Professor, SUNY, Farmingdale
The
ANNOTICO Reports
Can
be Viewed, and are Archived at:
Italia
Italia Mia: http://www.ItaliaMia.com
Annotico
Email: annotico@earthlink.net