Italian-American Sterotypes

[polymorphictotempole]

I'm proud to be Italian but I wasn't until I moved to Italy from Canada three years ago. I, too, felt put off, offended, and ashamed by the Italian American stereotype that's portrayed in Hollywood movies. The truth is that Italians are nothing like the characters you see in the movies and are generally very kind and sophisticated people.

[Johnnystrychnine]

Italian or cultural association is in the genes. It all depends whether culture or knowledge is transfered from the father to the son, or the father to the daughter. It depends how it is done too. Is it only around the table and spoken of, or is culture transfered through literature? Italian culture starts at the dinner table, then finishes in the ''Salotto'', the lounge room, where all the fathers sat around playing cards and chatting about Italian culture. But people and countries change...

[fansdesofia]

This is strange. In Argentina, my country, people are proud of their italian heritage. What happened to Italian Americans (I mean, Italians born in the USA) ?

[Thedoors1963]

Mbruzz I agree I'm proud to be Italian!

[Dtdilo5]

yes, there is a ton of italians that play that role of a "connected guy" that is so funny! Little do people know that the Italian mafia is only few members these days. The italians that need to play that role, most of the time are people who need attention like the mobsters themselves its a act. So those who play the role deserve to be made fun off because they show a lowlife side of Italians

[soadmastery]

Im 20 percent italian and im trying to speak it and im part dominican

[The00orange00]

qualcuno mi spiega che c'è scritto??

[1985HotRod]

being italian doesnt mean anything.....you have to look at the individual to see their colors/energy

[mbruzz]

Everyone should be proud to be from italian heritage. We are great people. Some of the greatest people of the past were italian. It's all about enjoying the beautiful things in life. We have wiseguys just like ever other culture (irish, russians, jews, chinese). Only diff., our wiseguys have a bit more charm and class. Don't ever be embarrassed being italian! Being italian is a way of life and not about where you come from. So live it up!

[gorani29]

I'm half Italian and grew up in the south talk about odd lol

[killomata27]

@gorani29 not really. Im 3 quarters italian and Im from Texas :)

[HelpTheWorld91]

@killomata27

Half Italian from Virginia. But its Northern Virginia so its not technically "the South"

[ChildOfTheStar36]

Interesting, it can be similar for Italians growing up in Australia.

[inhumanhyena]

Interesting, "being Italian meant understanding the Mezzogiorno culture" the culture of the south of Italy, ironically the country was united as a nation by Piedmonts (northerners), and a civil war was fought for 10 years following by the south. Standard Italian is closer to Tuscan (northern) than the languages of the south. I have a lot of issues with so many conflicting ideas of ethnicity, it's mixed up. Italian identity was born in the last 100 years, to a nation younger than America

[Caporacolo]

@inhumanhyena wrong. Italian identity is much older than America. Dante Alighieri in the XIII century already spoke about "italian people" and the necessity of a unique ruler for the whole peninsula. Machiavelli, in XV century, spoke about a "prince" who should have ruled the whole peninsula once again. Machiavelli felt italian, not only tuscanian. The same as Dante and many others who in 1200-1300-1400 felt themselves as Italians.

Italian identity is much older than Italy as an united state.