The newly published photographic epic of The Journey of the Italians in America, by Seattle-based Italian/American author and academic Vincenza Scarpaci, reflects upon hundreds of individual experiences of Italian/American immigrant families, and gives a more colorful mosaic of the all across America,  Italian American Extremely Diverse Immigrant Experience.

I could find no references to "fist pumping" , "tanning beds", or "hair gel", in that Experience, although I applaud the "Guidos"  Personal and Laundry Hygiene. :) 

The Journey of the Italians in America
A Photographic Exploration of a Century Of Italians in America 
Southern Sonoma County Journal; Monday, April 05, 2010.

...[Now is the] time to peruse the newly published photographic epic of The Journey of the Italians in America, by Seattle-based Italian/American author and academic Vincenza Scarpaci?
Between the years 1880 and 1914 almost 4 million Italian immigrants arrived in the US, initially clustering in the industrial Northeast, then fanning out across the country in search of adventure and opportunity. 
Scarpaci's captivating volume of both private and public photography spanning the early years through to today's third and fourth generational Italian/American families in communities around the country serves as a stunning reminder of how these early immigrants transformed the landscape and American life as we know it through initial struggle for citizenship, anti-Italian prejudice, Columbus Day Parades, World War II, sports, entertainment, innovation as determined agricultural entrepreneurs and not least as leaders in popular food culture.
By reflecting upon hundreds of individual experiences of Italian/American immigrant families, the author has created a substantial cultural photo album to grace the table of any proud paesano! 
From photos of hard-faced immigrants collecting rags and junk by horse and cart in Erie Pennsylvania in 1906 to a similar period photo of Samuele Sebastiani cutting cobblestones in Sonoma to earn enough money to buy a vineyard (Sebastiani had arrived penniless in San Francisco at aged 18 in 1893, moving up to Sonoma where he bought a wagon and four horses to supply cobblestones for the streets of SF), Italian American soldiers restoring stability to liberated Italy in 1944, Mafia prototypes, ethnic slurs, opera and espresso, The Journey of the Italians in America is one monumental testament to capturing the essence of a proud heritage. 
Reviewing Scarpaci's book as an immigrant myself (aka wife of the Italian husband!) I found the author's insightful, detailed captions as riveting as the photographs themselves. So many families cut from a similar cloth, yet as diverse as the adopted homeland itself. ..
As a British/American I have infused all of my favorite aspects of growing up in the UK into our  immigrant American household. The Italian half of my sons' heritage is a whole different ball game. And one in which a book such as Scarpaci's documents and celebrates on a grand scale. 
 
 

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