Silvano M. Tomasi

Questions of group identity, power, and organization are being increasingly recognized as crucial for an understanding of the American scene. Very little attention has been given to Italo-Americans in social science literature, perhaps because of cultural and linguistic barriers to research on their adjustment in this society. Four main sections of this book deal with: (1) facts and figures about Italian migration to the United States; (2) the overall impact of the Italian and American society on each other; (3) selected illustrations of the ways in which Italians related to American mores in economic, educational, political, and religious institutions; and, (4) an analysis of return migration to Italy, focusing on its causes and effects, both for migrants and for Italian society. Each section includes a selected bibliography, prepared by the respective authors, on the number of topics connected with the feelings and actions of Italo-Americans as they assimilated to a new way of life. (eric)… (mehr)