THE ITALIAN AMERICANS | Breaking Through | PBS

We note the passing of Mario Cuomo, who was a proud Italian American who embodied the larger story of America. Here's an excerpt featuring him in the upcoming PBS series Italian Americans, which premieres in February.

[@mr.m1garand254]

Grandpa arrived in the 1920s, and my last name is Rossi. I'm proud of my heritage and my heritage is very much why I have certain traits (like being loud XD) thank you grandpa and all the hard work of many italian Americans to help build the country despite struggle🇮🇹🇺🇸

[@madsskipper9408]

That 1984 speech still gives me chills - and I’m not even American!

[@fixit8492]

Same here, great symphatetic voice, sense of humor, humbledness, and I gotta love it for I grew up learning English watching everybody loves Raymond

[@mr.afrikaans1747]

True, true.

[@carolbenson6524]

So proud of my Italian heritage!

[@platano3000x]

My first girlfriend was italian..wassup with u..are u single

[@kingkillerstripe4467]

Your Surname is Benson how Italian are you really?

[@carolbenson6524]

@@kingkillerstripe4467 I am one quarter polish..one quarter Sicilian...and the other have is Italian from the Abruzzo region. (Benson was my married name that I decided to keep after my divorce in 1982 for my children. So there!!

[@kingkillerstripe4467]

@@carolbenson6524 OK fair enough not that bad I stand corrected

[@itsmeandrea138]

@@carolbenson6524 Ehm... Sicily is in Italy

[@Sergio-fu7mv]

This man’s an inspiration. I feel, just now Mexicans are coming to a point where the real Mexicans are being shown. The hard workers, the family men. It’s a relief there will be an end point, for the most part.

[@delgi9551]

I hope this video is an eye opener for so many Italian Americans (my people) to realize that they once were "the foriengers" with criminal stereotypes despite the fact that soooo many were family men and hard workers and it took decades to try to change that. They went through what so many Mexican Americans feel they are going through now. We need to find similarities, not differences.

[@gregDino32]

@@delgi9551 Im salvadorian but this applies to me as well.

[@gregDino32]

@@delgi9551 I've also always admired italian culture because its similar to ours , I usually understand italian, I'm actually trying to learn .I know spanish already , so might as well learn a third or fourth language.

[@delgi9551]

@@gregDino32 yes a Latin culture and language. Very similar to ours. Very much so. It's because of the core Latin base due to Spain and Italy.

[@itsmeandrea138]

@@delgi9551 The Irish people too

[@jop7672]

Prayers for the beautiful people of Italy. Our hearts are broken in unity for the loss of Italian life.

[@domenicoscarpa670]

😚😘😘😘😘😘🥰🙄🤫🙏

[@gracecheri997]

Less than 2 percent of Italian Americans are connected to the mob but that Goomba Image is constantly promulgated in films, tv shows and commercials. Sadly, this stigma holds them back significantly . Ivy League schools throughout the entire country only accept 8 percent despite their academic image. Thats not bias?

[@planetclownfishbrain7052]

Look and see who perpetuated this stereotype and you'll also find it was the same group that controlled organized crime, media, banking, films, etc...

[@grantomalley8532]

Seriously, I am half Irish and half Italian. My great grand parents came her in the late 1800's. Get over it already. We have been here for over 120 years.

[@josephroberts8344]

I went to Italy recently and I’m not white. One of the most trash racist countries I’ve ever been to. No one should be discriminated against, but how about treating your visitors with the same kind of respect you are demanding.

[@RealPolitik-dy4it]

Same with us Russians. We still get sterotyped as spies and criminals. But that doesn't stop us from succeeding in america.

[@TheSpynerd]

@@josephroberts8344 go to southern italy. I'm pretty sure you've been in the north

[@LymanPhillips]

This is one of my favorite "American Experience" series I have ever seen. This is how documentaries should be done.

[@chanpolylun2075]

My English teacher is also an Italian American. He's from Connecticut, New Haven.

[@delgi9551]

I would really love for certain minorities to watch this and realize that it wasn't even until 1986 that an Italian-American was appointed to a position of white collared power. That's how slow it takes for this country to accept "others." There was also systemic oppression against specifically Italian-americans. There was thought that they would never be able to take a position like that and it was almost impossible just like people thought it was impossible that this country would ever see an African American president but Obama did it.

[@gregDino32]

Italian American discrimination still exists but it's just subtle and mostly said by people on the internet because alot of italians will put racists in their place .They say things like oh they all look hispanic ,arab or jewish and they are criminals.

[@gregDino32]

You're right though things are changing slowly though.

[@fantastic1231]

Gianna would you please explain to me as to why Italian Americans were discriminated against given that Italians are also white people at least? I'm just curious about it! Thanks!

[@forestevans5453]

AveryCharles Dewey I’m so ashamed of only being half

[@MrRed-tf7bv]

I dont believe that, ltalian Americans were ALWAYS considered white people.

[@Aalliiiq]

Their will, courage and bravery fighting in Normandy then only to be discriminated against. They do deserve to be in leadership roles as they are more American than Italian.

[@marjoriedondiego529]

Until now I didn’t realized that clump family is very strong, intelligent, and kind. Very impressed about the father Mr. Mario Coumo was very successful politician because he is talking from his heart and to all poor people and immigrants like his parents. It doesn’t matter what color you came from. He is the most intelligent person I ever heard his messages. Always people pay attention because his speech is very thoughtful and show his dignity not for money but to help others and have a better life. ❤️

[@user-cn3dr5md8m]

mario cuomo is the most thoughtful,intellectual,philosopher politician that ever existed.

[@vinista256]

Up there with Adlai Stevenson--and, unfortunately, he proved that thoughtful, intellectual, philosophical types don't win elections 😐

[@domenicoscarpa670]

😘😘😘😘😘😘🙄🙏🤫

[@user-cn3dr5md8m]

@@vinista256 it's a cruel world.people don't like decency anymore.people like him and Ralph nader,have no chance among thieves.maybe we don't deserve such individuals.at least people like them, sleep well in the evening with their conscious in comfort.

[@guidodemaio7632]

Most parents want it better for their kids, then they had.

[@KenDrPH]

Forza Italia!!!! 💪🏻

[@delgi9551]

Oh and just to clarify they had been in the country already for almost a century.

[@mwendapoleee]

It was a long rough road it was a longtime coming.

[@dorisc8604]

He was really smart he didn't want to be another Kennedy in the hands of the mafia! I understand and I applaud that no body is going to buy him! The mafia was very strong in that era.

[@thunderbay8888]

Got respect for Mario, but no respect for his 2 boys.

[@domenicoscarpa670]

🤫propaganda ok

[@ROMAMITICA]

favoloso

[@GuonMr]

I am a lst generation Italian & I am proud of it. But I hate to see Pelosi being one of us; even Italian could have "bad apples."

[@anthonytriolo3643]

Her father was what Italians call” di mezzo lato.”

[@genevievebahrenburg]

I am a huge fan of Mario! I am very eager to hear Chris and Andrew talking together about their father. I suggest they follow what he did for 92Y. I think they should start the Tale of Two cities or Excelsior podcast on him. Chris already has a podcast so Andrew can start his own podcast with his father.

[@williamrunner6718]

Scalia! The greatest U.S. Supreme Court Justice of all time!

[@domenicoscarpa670]

😘😘😘😘😘😘😘🙄🤫🙏

[@erinwalker711]

This is why we love ❤️ the Italian Americans 🇮🇹! Bellisima!

[@MikeCee7]

There have been Italian, American mayors of New York City, the biggest city in America, way before Cuomo, governor of New York friend, for instance everyone’s heard of Mayor LaGuardia.

[@jkakurinpoche1406]

!!!!! CUOMO for President !!!!!

[@vincentspassero-noska8127]

I don’t understand why United States politics focuses SO much on race and nationality. I hope that changes soon causes even in 2020 not much has changed

[@tripjet999]

Sadly, Ferraro sold out to the criminal tobacco pushers.

[@foxfly2372]

RIP Antonin Scalia - - great American patriot hero.

[@anthonytriolo3643]

The mother of President J Kennedy Fitzgerald .Fitzgerald was an Italian merchant his real name was Digeraldo or Geraldino.He found out he could not make in this country as an Italian.

[@carmelaguzman7714]

Huh? *His?* And the Kennedys and Fitzgerald's were rich Irish Catholics.

[@richardtrubiano7045]

Scalia 👍👍👍

[@genevievebahrenburg9956]

Andrew and Mario Cuomo two natural leaders. I want to hear Andrew talk about his father’s Tale of Two Cities speech. I support Andrew and america needs to stop giving him so many hits right now- he has a lot on his plate but he isn’t running for gov. I am huge fan of Hochul and they both have my support. I pray seeing them work together on a project to take down trumpoply would help america. I am an democrats and democrats needs to UNITE and back BIDEN

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

You are part of the problem. You are not part of the solution. You are such because you do not see how the woke Democrat party has used you and is using you now. Biden gives jack about us.

[@MikeCee7]

If you would of ask me back in 1988, if we will have Italian-American president before a African-American president. Most would of said “of course” - We’ve had Italian American mayors of New York City (largest city in America) way before Mario Cuomo was governor on NY. For example everyone knows of Mayor La Guardia.

[@ednan9]

so most presidents come from Anglo background with Kennedy being Irish and now Obama being African American. Cool.

[@delgi9551]

Ya know Anglo means the Northern European stock, predomintantly the UK. Anglo comes from Germanic or English speaking peoples.

[@gregDino32]

@@delgi9551 yes only english are anglo.

[@gregDino32]

Dude join the club , us latinos and asians havnt had one either.

[@redcomic619]

The WASPs are Freemasons. This explains a lot of it.

[@fantastic1231]

Can anyone explain to me as to why Italian Americans were discriminated?

[@jo-vf8jx]

fantastic1231 Honestly, it would be better to look it up then to have someone give different explanations as to why.

[@user-zy9yg2eu5t]

1.) They have darker skin 2.) They are catholic 3.) They had a stigma for organised crime 4.) They have latino names 5.) They have latino culture

[@ami6272]

@@user-zy9yg2eu5t I want to warn you that your definition of Latino is completely off from the real definition of Latino.

[@cfclazio621]

@@user-zy9yg2eu5t so stereo type ! italians can be dark haired < ginger , blonde you get very pale skinned italians because we are european people[white people] but you pick up on some that were slightly darker wow what a dummy !!!!!!

[@user-zy9yg2eu5t]

@@cfclazio621 If a Tunisian and a Norweigan walked through ab Italian town together, the Norwegian would be the obvious foreigner

[@DMH-bt2zo]

It’s a shame that one of these Italian-Americans severely disgraced himself recently…

[@domenicoscarpa670]

🤫women propaganda bich

[@dobbynp]

Greatest Italians ever were Milli Vanilli

[@jimfesta8981]

So, why all this fuss over Mario Cuomo breaking the barrier into New York politics? It seems you may have forgotten Mayor La Guardia.

[@michellealexsandriagiangra935]

THERE IS A BOOK WHEN ITILANS WERE BLACK IN AMERICA

[@scepticsquirrel]

@@italianoetnico.calabreseve9262 No, because it wasn't a historical (not because Southern Italians were poorer or they had some Arab blood in veins) but a cultural-religious discrimination. For example Italians, the Irish and Mexicans were for some decades were recorded in censuses as racially others because they were Catholics, American-borns pushed for this fresh-arriveds' exclusion from public life. Protestant Americans of Dutch,German and British descent feared the "Papists" and future Catholic majorities in big cities.

[@thenatureremedy_]

@Spotek hard to generalise though, couldn’t some have Arabic Origins?Italy only unified in 1861. I’m from southern Italy, 100 percent, but when I did genetic testing, I came up 40% non Italian. It came up as 20% Greek and 20% Turkish/Armenian. My grandma came up 3 percent East African. So unless everyone is tested we really don’t know.

[@thenatureremedy_]

@Spotek I’m not saying everyone is descended from Arabs but a few people could have intermingled. For example, where I’m from, there was an Emirate there (in Bari) in the 7th century, not for long but it existed. Also there was an emirate in Sicily for a few hundred years around the same time. Lots of Arab influences in Sicily if you visit. Don’t believe me, you can Google it. :)

[@WolfOfLosAngeles]

My mom and dad and even great great grandmother was filed as white on their birth certificate and they are Mexicans born in the United States.

[@salscandura6059]

@@thenatureremedy_ My surname is apparently of Arab origin, my grandfather having come from the Catania province. I only discovered the origin two years ago.

[@sudipbhaumik7905]

I used to thought that america does always embrace white Europeans of any nationality.

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

try "think, get rid of "does'," change "embrace" to "embraces" and you have an English sentence. If you want to have people read you learn grammar.

[@domenicoscarpa670]

American pipol is not cattolik

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

You flunked spelling, right?

[@lucadipietro61]

They're not Italians

[@giulianaggar1556]

Luca Di Pietro what do you mean?

[@rationalbeing4928]

@@giulianaggar1556 the Americans

[@TheSpynerd]

They're more proud italians than you ever will be. They are the REAL Italians.

[@ggboy4948]

@@TheSpynerd nope real italians can speak italian

[@cfclazio621]

@@ggboy4948 so can anyone who goes to italian school so your point ?

[@tpsu129]

PBS…your bias is showing, again.

[@catherinegrimm5267]

I wish Mario Cuomo had run for President, as I wish Andrew Cuomo would run also.

[@rockyracoon3233]

Andrew Cuomo is politically dead.

[@domenicoscarpa670]

Puttane propagand ok

[@basilmanolakos4926]

Mario Cuomo may have been a source of pride but was a lousy governor of NY and therefore was defeated for a 4th term.

[@pennywiser9607]

Why is no one reporting his mob ties to the five families? Bonnano Colombo Gambino Genovese Lucchese

[@anthonywilliams6746]

Sure, didn't stop a Black for being Black though did it

[@gibememoni]

italians are black

[@jmf5246]

The democratic party left Italian Americans years ago. Once they went full woke the party drove Italians out pushing cultural marxism and antiwhite” ideology

[@renegade9777]

The Northeast is a Democratic stronghold, snowflake!

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

100% right on.

[@momogabagool7720]

The cuomo brothers area DISGRACE !!!

[@domenicoscarpa670]

Puttane propaganda ok

[@The55nomad]

The mafia.