Italian Immigration into the United States: Struggle, Resilience, and Success 🇮🇹🇺🇸

From Humble Beginnings to a Lasting Legacy: The Italian Immigrant Experience in America

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Mulberry Street, New York City , ca. 1900

Italian immigration to America has a rich and multifaceted history that spans centuries, leaving a profound impact on the United States. As someone who has lived in Rome for 40 years and deeply identifies with both my Italian and American roots, it’s fascinating to explore the stories of immigrants, particularly Italians, and how they shaped American society.

After four decades living in Italy, I’ve come to realize that I am, in fact, an immigrant myself. This got me thinking about the words we use to describe people who leave their home country. Terms like "expat" and "immigrant" often get thrown around, but they carry distinct meanings and connotations. Expats typically live abroad temporarily by choice, while immigrants often settle permanently, driven by necessity. It's important to acknowledge the privilege and hardship both of these words can imply. 

The Italian immigrant stories in this newsletter are a reminder of the importance of understanding immigration through a historical lens, and how the contributions of immigrants have enriched - and continue to enrich - the fabric of a nation.