October is National Italian Heritage Month

Italian Heritage Month

October is National Italian Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the accomplishments, culture, and contributions of Italian Americans, past and present. It’s also an opportunity to learn about the people who left Italy to build new lives in America, including the challenges they faced along the way.

For me, this history is personal. I’m lucky enough to be Italian on both sides! My grandparents and great-grandparents; Greco (paternal grandfather, paternal grandmother’s maiden name not known but came from Sicily), Armato (maternal grandfather), and DiConcilio (maternal grandmother), immigrated to New York City from Italy, coming through Ellis Island at the beginning of the 20th century. They settled in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, where they raised their families and contributed to the growth of the city they now called home.

History: National Italian Heritage Month was first declared a heritage month in 1989 by proclamation of the President and Congress.

Building a New Life in America

For Italian immigrants who passed through Ellis Island, arriving in America was only the beginning. Next came finding work, securing housing, and supporting their families.

During the large waves of immigration in the late 1800s and early 1900s, many Italian immigrants took on physically demanding work. They helped construct roads, railways, subways, sewers, and bridges, contributing to the growth of New York and other American cities.

Their work extended beyond the Northeast. Italian immigrants also found jobs in mining, farming, fishing, and lumbering across the country. Others opened small businesses that served their neighborhoods.

Women’s work was essential to their families’ livelihoods, too. Many Italian immigrant women worked as seamstresses in garment factories or took in sewing at home. Others earned money by taking in boarders or operating small shops. Working conditions could be difficult and unsafe, and Italian workers also joined efforts to improve wages, shorten hours, and make workplaces safer. Learn more about Italian American immigration and work.

These everyday contributions deserve to be remembered alongside those of Italian American artists, writers, architects, and entrepreneurs. Behind the larger story were families working to make a home and create opportunities for the next generation.

Facing Prejudice and Discrimination
Italian immigrants weren’t always welcomed by their new neighbors. Those from Sicily and southern Italy, in particular, faced ethnic slurs and damaging stereotypes. People often portrayed them as dangerous or criminal simply because of where they came from.

One of the most horrific examples of this prejudice occurred in New Orleans on March 14, 1891. After the murder of police chief David Hennessy, authorities arrested numerous Italians. The first trial ended with six defendants acquitted and three others receiving mistrials, but the men remained in custody.

The following day, a mob stormed the parish prison and murdered eleven men of Italian descent. Some had been acquitted, while others had not yet been tried. The attack was the largest mass lynching in U.S. history. No one was prosecuted for the killings, which also caused a diplomatic crisis between the United States and Italy.

This tragedy happened before Ellis Island opened in January 1892, reminding us that Italian immigration—and the prejudice immigrants encountered- began well before the Ellis Island years.

Remembering and Celebrating Our Heritage

For me, celebrating Italian heritage means remembering the families behind the history, including my own. Their stories are part of the communities they helped build and the traditions passed down through generations.

Festivals, food, music, and family gatherings are wonderful ways to celebrate our culture. We can also honor our heritage by sharing family stories, looking through old photographs, and teaching our children about both the accomplishments and hardships of those who came before us.

National Italian Heritage Month gives us a reason to pause and remember, but these stories deserve to be shared year-round.