If you haven't had a chance to check out our site, ItalianAware, then you probably wouldn't know that we're obsessed with books. A personal favorite is WOP!: A Documentary History Of Anti-Italianism: By LaGumina.In his work, LaGumina goes on to evaluate a plethora of anti-Italian discrimination he has encountered through research.
What fascinates me most about the book is how he has found obscure anti-Italian events. One in particular occurred in my hometown of New York City. Back in 1991, the New York City Comptroller was Elizabeth Holtzman. As Comptroller, she had the duty of accepting or rejecting bids on public works. Before her in 1991 was a bid from Frederick DeMatteis, an Italian American owner of a successful construction company.
What unfolded from this bid was nothing short of bigotry. Ms. Holtzman denied DeMatteis' bid because she claimed he was linked to organized crime. She also managed to make this statement without a shred of evidence. Apparently, the thought process was "Italian + Construction = Mafia." I guess they had a course on condemning Italians in Harvard Law when she attended.
Mr. DeMatteis did not back down simply because his bid was denied. He filed discrimination charges against the comptroller's office, and won.
Justice Schlesinger, who presided over the case stated that Mr. DeMatteis "had lost his good name" for no good reason."Other than innuendo, speculation and guilt by association, particularly by one with an Italian surname, there is simply no evidence of a probative value to show a link between Mr. DeMatteis and corrupt activity," Justice Schlesinger said. Finally, the judge described Ms. Holtzman's efforts to tie Mr. DeMatteis to organized crime as "rumors being spread by the Comptroller."
I was oddly pleased when I came across this story. I wasn't pleased at an Italian being persecuted, but I was pleased by an Italian looking to clear his good name. My grandfather always guarded his good name, and taught me to do the same. In fact, a good name is something to be honored and respected in the Italian American community. So, why then, is the media obsessed with the 0.000001% of the cafoni who don't care if they are being labeled a guido or a gangster? Why is that how we're portrayed?
These are questions we all need to answer, for the sake of clearing our good Italian names. We need to fight back against the stereotypes and show the world that we are honest, hardworking people. Follow Mr. DeMatteis' example.
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