I would however echo Prof Ben Lawton's plea that more Book Reviews of I-A 
books be submitted to H-ITAM. I encourage IAWA to make that one of their 
priorities.
I will pledge to extend that distribution by about 5,000.

I would also suggest that an Organized Effort be made by IAWA to have their 
members make sure that they submit a number of REVIEWS and COMMENTS on each 
of the important I-A books on the Amazon and Barnes and Noble Online Book Web 
Sites. I believe IAWA is missing an important marketing technique. Visitors 
to those sites NEED to be encouraged, and when a prospective purchaser 
doesn't see complimentary words, those readers will not buy.

Further more, There are a number of Reading Lists that have been compiled by 
Readers, that both Amazon and Barnes and Noble are pleased to accommodate.
IAWA at least should have at least one, and hopefully more.  

IAWA's mandate expresses, what I have often encouraged, which is that the 
Academics and Writers provide the Research, Knowledge, and Information, 
about and for the I-A Community, that can be used by Activists and Major 
Italian American Organizations.

My one concern is that it sounds as if, and perhaps I've misinterpreted, that 
only so called "Intellectuals" can represent the I-A community in getting the 
word out, and there doesn't seem to be a willingness by IAWA to collaborate 
with other "segments" of the I-A community. It seems that IAWA, who are only 
now realizing the importance of "getting the word out", and are therefore 
"latecomers" seem to want to do it on their own. I would hope that they 
instead attempt to have liaisons with all other pertinent I-A groups.   

It also seems ironic, but yet encouraging, that the guiding quote on Site is: 
"Only silence is shame" - Bartolomeo Vanzetti 

And yet at least one of IAWA's more vociferous members, feels that we should 
indeed be silent in the face of a torrent of I-A Negative Stereotyping. Odd!
======================================================
Below I have summarized (accurately I hope) the nexus of the IAWA mission.

I-A  writers of IAWA bemoaned the fact that not only were not Americans not 
reading Italian American books, but Italian Americans weren’t reading them. 
In fact the I-A writers were not even reading each others books. 

IAWA then started monthy reviews and readings, encouraged writing of 
anthologies, book fairs, I-A writing courses, teaching of Italian American 
literature, etc. 

IAWA prudently notes that American Literature treats Italian Americans as 
mostly illiterate immigrants or, worse, as gangsters, they show themselves 
not only narrow-minded but just plain blind. Italian American literature 
should give the other overwhelming portion of the spectrum.

Prof Viscusi, states that for Italian American writers, the media portrayal 
of the Yusuf Hawkins incident in Bensonhurst, was a defining moment, in 
realizing that, "We (as the I-A community) must tell our story ourselves, or 
others will tell it for us." (and it will not be accurate, and we will not be 
happy).

The writers agreed that the voice of Italian America is effectively silenced. 

I-As voluntary organizations attempt to represent community opinion, but 
organizations need thinkers to study, poets to read, historians to keep them 
well informed. The public forum requires organizations, but it also requires 
public voices. 

Public voices are voices of intellectuals: poets, essayists, novelists, 
dramatists, researchers, critics, political philosophers, social scientists, 
artists, historians, theorists. Some of these intellectuals ought have 
appeared on Nightline or the Op-Ed pages of the great New York dailies, 
representing Italian Americans who are thoughtful, honest, concerned about 
social well-being, able to see events in larger contexts. 

Italian Americans must tell their story for themselves, the writers decided. 
Most important, writers began to think of the Italian American position as 
something that needed articulation, something they might seriously consider 
doing themselves. 

IAWA states that they are attempting to offer new representations of Italian 
America, written from an Italian American position, that will render their 
positions with point and passion and eloquence. Readers will find them 
irresistible.

[RAA: Hopefully, the writers will try to find the pulse of the I-A reader, 
and give the reader what the readers want, rather than the writers merely 
"indulging" themselves.] 

IAWA opines (and I agree) that Italian Americans that wishes to take pride in 
their descent, must be fully conversant of their literature and history, 
[otherwise it is an "empty pride", based on a "pasta" mentality.] 

IAWA observed that while Jewish American, African American, Chicano, Asian 
American, Nuyorican -- had all become categories in the book business. 
Italian Americans had experienced very little success in establishing Italian 
American as an effective marketplace category. 

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