The National Italian American Foundation - "Who We Are"

Over the past few years, NIAF has been very proud to serve as a media and outreach partner for an incredible documentary, which aired on PBS, called the "Italian Americans" written and directed by producer John Maggio.
Everywhere we went in the country, this film was met with incredibly warm and positive reactions and we thought that there could be no one better in the community to help us take a brief journey into NIAF’s proud history than John Maggio.
Please take a look at what NIAF means to the Italian American community after 40 wonderful years.
For more information, visit www.niaf.org

[@corradomascitti88]

My grandmother and great grandparents came over from Italy in the 40's. I'm very proud to be Italian-American! We need to set the record straight that not all of us are mafioso's and that we are hard working, honest people.

[@oneitalia2312]

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

[@josephinetracy1485]

I think what is worse than that is all the "white guilt" bullshit..... where we have to GD shoulder the blame for what occurred before we were even here! And that's even assuming that anyone is even guilty for what an ancestor did in the first place. Also, they keep talking about Columbus, and not the Spanish Empire that he was merely an agent for.

[@albydigiammarco3373]

I came across this video and as I saw the title, I had to watch it. To all italians that left italy for a better oppertunity, my family left Italy, for Somalia. They then got word that there was a boom in then Rhodesia and northern Rhodesian, which is now Zimbabwe and Zambia. They then, in the late sixties moved to Australia, where I was born. We moved back to South Africa by ship, The Marconi, then back to Zambia. Zambia was full of italians in those days and our culture was always by our side. What I'm trying to say is, Italians are all over the world and have left a brilliant mark on their respective adopted countries. I, for one, am extremely proud of my italian back ground

[@prettyhollypolly7553]

I’m not Italian I’m Nigerian but it’s nice to see people appreciate their culture. ❤️

[@hirumbiffidum9145]

I don't know about the port city of Lagos to the south Atlantic but to east The Italian and Kenyan people have a very special relationship with each other and both nations vacation in each other's resorts ...

[@alessiogagliardi4211]

Thanks from Italy

[@georgeboeheinger5573]

Ball of yarn

[@franciscoarmenta8785]

i love the italian people much love from the Latin community

[@josephinetracy1485]

@@franciscoarmenta8785 Non-Italians have ruined this whole comment section.

[@alexisgenareo]

This makes me so happy!! I feel like Italian Americans are always pushed onto the back burner. I have and always will be proud to Italian American

[@oneitalia2312]

Personally, I have never felt that way.....I'm sorry this has happened in your life. Be strong, even still today where you are, stand up for your heritage, refuse to be put on the back burner.......

[@Jay-vr9ir]

Ha! Be glad you did not live in Canada , before The Muslims and people from The Middle East arrived in Canada . Canadian Italians took a lot of crap , Italians in Canada and The U.S. are very charitable towards strangers , I did not find that in Italy .I spoke to two ladies from Texas visiting Italy , they could not believe how nasty , Italians in Italy could be.

[@grantomalley8532]

@@Jay-vr9ir My great grands parents came here from Ireland and Italy in the late 1800s. Almost 130 years ago. My grand kids would not know Italy or Ireland if they fell over it. Get over it.

[@Jay-vr9ir]

@@grantomalley8532 Get over your grand kids? Okay.

[@grantomalley8532]

@@Jay-vr9ir huh?

[@dina113east]

My family arrived in America, from Italy, from the 1870's to the 1890's. I've been told I have an American mind, but an Italian soul. I think that is a lovely compliment.

[@sicilianchris1837]

I am proud of being Italian American. Napoletano and Siciliano.

[@pamle1]

In northern California, it was mainly Ligurian and Tuscan ancestry.

[@NYCfrankie]

Sicilian Chris same my moms family is from Trapani in Sicily and my dads family is Neapolitan born and raised in Bensonhurst Brooklyn FORZA ITALIA 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[@mattiaderme]

Ed io sono italiano al 100%

[@maxten]

Commendatorii 🤌

[@auroramarie4661]

Love you from an italian Australian 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹buona Fortuna 🇮🇹🇮🇹

[@elieenm4391]

I am Italian and I am proud of my family from Naples lovingly grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins. My mother and father were all about family and religion being Catholic went to catholic church and school. God bless the Italian people in the United States and in Italy.❤

[@giovanniforlini]

Italo americano non significa Italiano. Gli Italiani vivono solo in Italia e parlano l'Italiano. Dovete farvene una ragione. Siete Americani e non c'è nulla di male.

[@Bible144]

I'm sicilian on my moms side, she moved to the US as a pre teen, some of my fondest memory's of being a kid was when we would visit sicily to see family!

[@allhailmichigan9876]

I used to have a big italian family, sadly the ones i cherished are now gone and im one and all but i bleed love for 🇮🇹 and always will! Its all i have!

[@damianrodriguez5907]

As a Mexican American first generation. I didnt know how to properly spell English words until I was in the third grade. I always blamed my parents for not teaching me but they didn’t know English either and always worked heavy hours to provide for us, therefore they couldn’t really help me with my homework. As I grew up I began understanding from where we came from and couldn’t be much more proud of who I am today 🇲🇽🇮🇹

[@antonthebum]

There’s many similarities in the Italian and Mexican cultures. We’re both very family focused hard working people , similar music and even the flag is almost the same. Also although Italians mostly arrived many generations ago their experiences with prejudice , harsh treatment, negative propaganda and misrepresentation upon getting here is very similar. It always bothers me to see Italian Americans speaking badly about more recent immigrants because it shows a complete disconnect from the hardships their ancestors went through. Salute 🫡🇮🇹🇲🇽

[@josephinetracy1485]

@@antonthebum There is a lot to discuss, and its unhelpful to have people who are not of Italian descent sticking their noses in what tiny tiny tiny media we have! You could rattle off the names of 100 cultures to fit that category.... "family oriented." When my family purchased a $7,000 dollar Chrysler Cordova in 1979, we would get flipped off and cursed by Mexicans... kids mostly... out of jealousy for our GD $7,000 car, which my father earned working as a truck driver. He literally drove 2 million miles all around the west coast delivering goods to make this county run, yet we were expected to apologize to Mexicans for our $7,000 car!!

[@glimmerbloo799]

I am Canadian Italian ,parents came from Italy. My mother came to Ellis Island and my father came to Halifax Canada in 1950 .Proud of them with all they have done,sacrifices and hard work.All without an education and they give their kids a good life full of oppotunities. Like all italo Americans and Canadians, we share the same dreams and proud of all the italian immigrants that came here since the 1900's.ciao.

[@AndrewDaniele87]

is there a big italo-canadian population in nova scotia? I actually wanted to move there from Toronto! (and finally Italy when I retire in 30 years lol)

[@justme3d]

The best music ever to describe Italian hearth. A misture of happinnes and sadness at the same time that others cultures can't understand.

[@cacuociolo91]

Great movie my father had a little part in the film

[@cacuociolo91]

Essere Italiani è un privilegio ottimo lavoro NIAF we Italians are proud of you,saluti da Palermo

[@giovanniserafino1731]

Viva l'Italia!

[@peterdasaro2124]

Forza Palermo

[@alessiogagliardi4211]

siculi esporatori di Mafia

[@antonthebum]

🫡🤝Salute, ho sangue di sicilia (Palermo) e Calabria 🤌

[@mnz145]

@@alessiogagliardi4211 Hatred depicts a true picture of you,😂😂😂😂😂😂 Fatti una bella doccia fredda, ti prometto che ti sveglierà.

[@alipalocilesta]

I am Italian and I'm proud of what NIAF does in America to support Italian Culture.

[@johnmarshall4399]

What about your american culture

[@broadwaydebut1]

My family migrated from Italy in 1962. As a twelve year old I was not happy to leave Quattromiglia. I’m 74 years old and can’t thank my family enough for making that decision. Thank you America

[@leopicollo1569]

I am soo proud to be an italian , are culture is a hard working honorable people , we make to be a good american , my family has a long history in concrete , and me demolition asphalt and concrete , we all love food and family , the time of family dinners and get together are priceless , my family comes from piemonte were we value one another and care for one another , all of italy is like this , I thank my nono and noni and mom and dad for showing me how to have fun , how to love , and how enjoy what we can our family and culture.

[@theparthenopean2150]

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!SALUTI FROM NAPOLI

[@lillieanag6394]

Ιωάννης the parthenopean Saluti!!

[@quijote8277]

Grazie mille per le tue parole

[@alext.9033]

I have no Italian heritage...actually, I'm 2nd generation Vietnamese-American. But I have respect for the Italian history as they had it tough coming in!

[@AzizDoufikar2280]

Thank you.My great-grandparents near my mother's side were Italian.

[@AzizDoufikar2280]

@@f_gk_gd My great-grandparents survived that events.

[@AzizDoufikar2280]

@@f_gk_gd My great-grandparents survived that events.

[@josephinesaggio818]

My parents migrated to the U.S. in the 50's and I was just 2 years old at that time. I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity of the American dream and its success and also am proud of my background, coming from Sicily. Having the best of both worlds teaches you much in the form of respecting others and their opinions, even though they are different than yours. All of my Sicilian relatives have done well in the U.S. because they remember from where they came from and the difficult and poor life that they led in past years and I know that they are assets to the American society. Wonderful association the NIAF!!! My compliments.

[@leopicollo1569]

I am third generation italian and proud i love my heritage , lived in italy loved it and I love america .

[@tooprandineshkumar3338]

Love from India

[@biker9114]

I'm 2nd. generation Italian /American . My grandparents came to America from Vallelunga Pratameno in May of 1910 with 3 children and had 8 more born in Rochester New York all hard working and successful.

[@quercus5398]

Fact!.........Italy and Italians have given so much to the world through out the past! Viva L’Italia........Viva L’America!

[@georgeboeheinger5573]

Minus everything the mafia stole

[@masterjunky863]

@@georgeboeheinger5573 The mafia represents Italians at the same level Nazism represents Germans

[@stephaniepicone9209]

I am a member of the new neighborhood from the Italian American Podcast, it was good to see you here John Viola!

[@andrewdavanzo8497]

I'm proud to be an Italian American!

[@sqaudronsquadron3808]

Greetings and respect For ALL Italian american's,,,,,from a proud Italian from Europe, ,,love you ALL,,,

[@AndrewDaniele87]

siamo nella stessa squadra, andiamo! :D

[@giovannivitodonghia3583]

You couldn't choose a better soundtrack than Ennio Morricone's NUOVO CINEMA PARADISO! Great Italian Americans! LOVE FROM YOUR FRIEND, VITO, HERE IN ITALY! 🇮🇹❤️🇺🇸❤️🇮🇹❤️🇺🇸❤️🇮🇹❤️🇺🇸

[@1owellete1]

So very Proud to have this heritage!

[@brigidscott4373]

Louise Sobieski same here!!

[@daryld4457]

Pair of criminals.

[@dmalf3]

I am Italian and proud of it! I am so glad I was born Italian!

[@johnmarshall4399]

Your better life came from usa not italy

[@francesca_415]

i am an italian girl (i mean real italian from italy) and i am from Roma, center Italy. I am very young, i am 20, so i don’t fully know how things worked post WW2 when a lot of italians especially from southern italy came to the US. But what i know is that you built your own world in the US, you collaborated in the US to what is now the american society, you worked so hard... us italians often we don’t care about you because we don’t consider you italians but more like americans who pretend to be italian, and i often here on youtube wrote negative comments about (only about) the italian americans who are ignorant and pretend to know Italy when they just know stereotypes.. but i also know there are truly good italian americans who aren’t ignorant about Italy at all and who worked a lot in the US. My heart is with you, you had the courage to survive in hard times in a new country... be always proud of it, and don’t be ignorant about Italy because if you want to be considered italian remember than it isn’t so important the blood but the knowledge of Italy nowadays and italian culture. Baci da Roma ❤️🇮🇹 -una ragazza italiana

[@rockyracoon3233]

Grazie! I could kiss your feet for saying that!:')♡

[@francesca_415]

@@rockyracoon3233 no need AHHAAH

[@rockyracoon3233]

@@francesca_415 . Well I'd be honored regardless. lol

[@Refref1990]

ben detto! Praticamente questo commento lo avrei potuto scrivere io!

[@AndrewDaniele87]

ho una domanda per te, cosa pensano gli italiani della cantante Levante? Penso che dovrebbe essere più famoso (non so il congiuntivo di dovere ancora lol)

[@tonyFortuna-i1b]

I am Italian and first generation born America and understand how hard my Father and Mother had it plus raised 12 kids and hard my Father worked for his family and I am very Proud of being who I am.

[@masterjunky863]

As an Italian I consider them Italians, even if most of them sadly lost their ethnic culture and are "Americanized".

[@josephinetracy1485]

In San Francisco, there was a huge Italian area once (not North Beach), but its disappeared because of the endless influx of immigrants from Asia and Latin America after 1965. Then those scattered soon don't know anything about even those neighborhoods as they were for generations.

[@joemoschetta1541]

italians from around the world should unite

[@Nissardpertugiu]

But for many reasons , sometimes more hard than others , are considered americans and not italians by European italians .

[@Refref1990]

@@Nissardpertugiu Simply for us Italians (and Europeans in general), we perceive as Italians only those born and raised in Italy, because it is not your DNA that makes you an Italian, but it is living a culture every day, attending the same schools, knowing by heart the same advertising jingles, having the same mindset, unfortunately it is not enough to have an Italian grandfather who arrived in America when he was a child to be able to absorb all these things! Here Italian Americans will always be respected, they will always be welcome, but they will never be considered Italians since we are culturally too different and have little in common!

[@Nissardpertugiu]

@@Refref1990 and where a native nizzardo like me fits in ? My italian lineage is direct, not from 2 centuries ago. You know the history of Nizza right ? Ive been in Piemonte in numberous time as litle kid its not far away at all. The other in my family i was in Corsica . I talk a bit italian and i understand and make few sentences in nissardo, i know few stuff in ligure and piemonteis and Corsican too. I re learn because by mooves of life , i lost it a bit with living in Metz or Paris too. But i did came back where i was from last year. Everything fall in place again..

[@Refref1990]

@@Nissardpertugiu Well, here we were talking about Italian Americans, you too understand that your speech is slightly different and certainly not as common as with Italian Americans! Basically Nice is geographically part of the Italian territory, but culturally it is part of the French territory! You can come and go to Italy much easier than an American, but by your admission you don't know the language well and therefore I suppose you will be more immersed in French life than in Italian. You will have watched French programs as a child, French cartoons, done French schools, and your mindset will be French. During the Eurovision you will have cheered France and the same will have done at the World Cup and obviously you will have voted for your French president instead of the Italian one. In theory, as a European you should agree with me that in all respects you are French, despite your genetics being of Italian base. I don't know the border areas very well, so I know that there is usually a contamination of the neighboring country (as happens in Trentino where Italians also speak German). Obviously it is easier for you to get in touch with your origins as you are on the border, but in theory you remain French! Also because you should first of all answer yourself a question: If hypothetically tomorrow a war broke out between Italy and France, which side would you take sides? But given your particular situation, I'd like to know how you in Nice consider yourselves and your relationship with Italy according to the France you belong to!

[@Nissardpertugiu]

@@Refref1990 i talked Nissart as little kid too , and italian terms. Again back then i was Between Nizza, Villa franca , Monterosso grana and Furiani ( and more ) for my first 6 /7 years. I did continue to go in Corsica till...2020. Nissa isn't culturally french, its piemonteso ligure.. The fact it got invaded by france doesnt change that fact . It survive, even more in clandestinity. A part of my attitude never left , because the kid inside never died.. As contrary even in mode expressing i had few frictions with people in Paris and stuff because im not a very cartesian type of guy. I mean im more artistic. Descriptive. In fact , even i did saw french program i didn't much was exposed to TV. And a part of my family's pretty rebel. I don't own a TV , and official story , especially in french republic, is a fairytale. I kept certain expressions but 2 years ago i did come back. I don't write in french with mom much in messages for example. I don't talk french in bakeries, as its possible. Things still deep inside sometimes need a little help to be alive again. ;). But i know both cultures you re right .

[@Antreus]

Sicilian and Veronese, proud Italian-American. My great-grandfather was a gravestone carver and sculptor, working in the granite quarries.

[@daryld4457]

Yeah, right. The early 20th century equivalent of working in 'Waste Management.'

[@rockzalt]

From my experience Italians have a unique superpower. They can yell at each other while maintaining a logical order of thought in their discussion of passionate ideas. It may appear unhinged but it's anything but that.

[@jrpacer6355]

My grandparents on my Dad side the of the family his parents came from from Sicily came here when my grandma was 16 they married when she was 15 unbelievable they needed to do what they needed to do ....

[@daryld4457]

What a peed.

[@amytoure8411]

I have Italien blood from my mom and I like them. Great heart ❤❤❤

[@aliannacone4782]

Forza Italia.

[@quijote8277]

Potenza italian Viene transportato nel sangue

[@siciltrade]

Italians really made the difference in the US.

[@antonthebum]

Agreed and I love our culture but every other culture that came here adds to it and makes it a more beautiful place as well

[@anthonylamanna9330]

Yes we did.. so proud b Italian

[@daryld4457]

Yeah... A difference to the crime stats.

[@sugarraycapone9388]

My girlfriend and her friends all mock me because they are Brazilian and I am Sicilian American and I don't speak my native language, and it does hurt sometimes, But this really made my day, I am Proud of being An Italian American

[@gregDino32]

Hispanics ( not me I speak Spanish) also get the same shit because some don't speak Spanish.

[@antonthebum]

Not too late to start learning bro. Im Sicilian/ calabrese born in nyc so I learned way more Spanish than Italian growing up due to my environment and the lack of italian speakers but I have recently been learning A lot and and I’m picking it up quickly. There’s a good app called Duolingo that is very helpful, definitely worth checking out

[@vinny57ish]

Speaking for myself ? I too am Italian American, born in the Bronx N.Y.C. My late Grandfather Vincent was a New York liquor Lobbyist up in Albany the last roughly 15 years of his life. On my father's side ? Our roots go back into both Naples and Bari Italy. My late Great Grandfather Louis ? Brought his Bari Ice Business to N.Y.C. in the early 1930's in Parchester N.Y. of wich my late Grandfather took over the business and sold replacing the ice ? Beer and sodas. My late Grandfather was also very good friends with the late voice of thee New York Yankees, Mel Allen. In close i live in the state of N.M. i have back in the early 80's lived in Salem Mass. And have said repeatedly to many friends here. When my mother is laid to rest here? In Albuquerque i want to move back to the either Bronx or ? Boston area get me a Vespa motorized scooter a hopefully affordable little Apartment, then ? Eat a lot of the great Italian foods that i miss . Pick up a game of Bocci ball, smoke a nice cigar now and then and last but not least? Chase some of the Bellissima Italian American ladies around ... lol. Grazie mille again and i would like to learn if there is a chapter here in the Albuquerque Rio Rancho area that i can join ? Grazie. Ciao.

[@netmaxess]

You should do more to defend our nationality in movies and TV. We're always depicted as thugs and gangsters.

[@imranhq13]

netmaxess because you are, mafias!

[@Federico84]

@@imranhq13 that's funny, an arab that looks down on italians

[@sugarraycapone9388]

That's because people only like to show more the bad parts of things and never the good

[@gregDino32]

They do the same with us Hispanics , always in Gangs , overly dramatic etc

[@delrey874]

Don't worry, those roles have now been replaced by Mexicans. LOL

[@averycharlesdewey5431]

I wouldn’t trade my italian genes for all the money in the world I’m glad my grandparents came from Tropea even if I’m only half, but I still speak the native tongue

[@miamanning7871]

Thank you

[@jennierubio2867]

Iam very proud .

[@brycebertolino7017]

My Great Grandfather was a miner in the copper mines of Butte, Montana at a time when those mines were the most dangerous mines in the world, more dangerous than Czarist Russia. He filed for homesteads at the foothills of the Montana Rockies, not unlike Ivrea, Biella and Aosta. His wife was not going to let her kids going the mine. He did brew some Cointrouthat made it Chicago, circa 1925. Growing up I thought everyone ate Bagna Cauda, risotto, grissini, osso buco and the like. He saw his kids become cowboys and ranchers, his greats own trucking companies and his great greats graduate from Stanford, George Washinton U and BYU. In America you didn't have to live in cities if you didn't want to

[@antonthebum]

Wow bro interesting background. Your name says it all, the combo of Bryce and Bertolino is about as American as it gets. My family had the more traditional immigration story. Italy/Sicily ➡️Ellis island ➡️the Bronx My first name was also Americanized but it was passed down from my great grandfather (Antonino) to my uncle (Anthony) to me (Anton)

[@Samael6685]

Bagna cauda e risotto.... You grow up well, my Friends 😋

[@valerioproterra9091]

Grazie

[@323sazy]

Italians and Italian American are people we want what everyone wants.

[@absisfabs873]

But most italian americans in america dont speak italian anymore and its such a shame. Of they want to preserve culture, language is part of culture and they ar missing something

[@jimfesta8981]

My grandparents came from the poverty of Calabria, Italy. My father once told me they had dirt floors in their house.

[@dinoc404]

I'm italian born in ciro Italy and proud but unfortunately there is a sad reality about the Italians that no one talks about and I believe it's true the Italians has individuals have done very well but not has a group . for example like the Jewish people have done extremely well has a group and there is a reason for that Italians are jealous of each other sadly

[@jerometurner8759]

Love it. Great video. Makes me wonder ... why don't Greeks do such videos about themselves too?

[@Zack_Cestaro]

Italiano E Fiero

[@filou89]

I am German. And more Italian than any "Italian American" We as europeans are far more similar to each other than we might believe. It's alway funny to me to see, lets say "Italo-Amaicans", telling about their heritage an beeing somehow "Italian". I can assure that I as a German am far more Italian, than any Italo-American. I and most of my friends identify as not only germans but as well as "Europeans" We share a lot (Values, Sports, Holidays, Politics, Currency, History). Of course there are differences like language and certain parts of culture, but in general we are closer to each other than to our cousins overseas.

[@you-in5iy]

So you are more Italian than people who actually descend from Italians? As a German?

[@masterjunky863]

@@you-in5iy Culturally it's possible since Italians and Germans share an European common culture, while Italian-Americans are culturally more similar to other Americans than to Italians from Italy. Obviously ethnically Italian Americans are Italians.

[@kneelandpray2878]

Italian Americans are special, they have something that others don't have: talent.

[@jomane]

Define talent lol

[@MrAndreagia]

THANCK TO GOD I'M SICILIAN ITALIAN ,GRAZIE LA DOLCE VITA ITALIANA

[@Refref1990]

There is no Italian Sicilian term! If you were born in America you are an Italian American (more American than Italian), even if your grandparents came from Sicily! I am Sicilian and I consider myself Italian first, because Italy also includes Sicily!

[@chicolata4862]

Does anyone remember that an italian discovered America.

[@andreaveronesi5747]

Amerigo Vespucci from Florence

[@mariaoliva2465]

E' emozionante sentire come vi sentite ancora italiani, dopo tanti anni non e' cambiato nulla

[@michellemeyer1214]

I’m a 2nd generation Sicilian and so proud!

[@georgeboeheinger5573]

Mafia

[@michellemeyer1214]

George Boeheinger .....so small minded. That's like saying all Germans are like Hitler.

[@Demon92295]

Love from Scottish american🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸

[@rockyracoon3233]

@@michellemeyer1214 . Well said Sista!

[@michellemeyer1214]

Rocky Racoon ......thank you buddy!!!!!

[@masterjunky863]

I'm half Sicilian half Lombard from Milan 🇮🇹

[@FaustoM7432]

It is interesting see how the Italian Americans point out the importance of the family, when for the italians himself it is losing it

[@AndrewDaniele87]

purtroppo anche qui, il generazione nuovo sono più isolati

[@jacksparrow5281]

Waaay cumba I am from Cosenza too. Mamma mia.

[@dominicmisasi4170]

Dominic Misasi Proud to be a first generation Italian American

[@sebfer6708]

L’Amérique sans les italiens ce n’est plus l’Amérique !!! La culture italienne a embellie l’Amérique et ses grandes villes.. Les italiens ont vécus un racisme qui a été très refoulé dans les médias américains.. ce peuple n’est pas le genre à se plaindre !!! Les italiens ont avancé dans une société américaine sans pitié , cette force a fait éclorer des artistes, des politiciens, etc .. sans rien demander à personne et sans soutien de la société américaine anglo-saxonne !!!!!!! Un français d’origine italienne. 🙏🏼🇫🇷🇮🇹

[@chris6245]

My family is from Campofranco

[@robmartin217]

That's right brother!.......

[@justhere3794]

It’s funny. Their Italian Americans don’t even teach their kids Italian. Rarely have I ever met one that speaks it. My sister married an Italian man and he never taught his children Italian. My mother who is Spanish raised my 1:2 Italian nephew and now he speaks Spanish and English. Not Italian. My sisters Italian husband never wanted to speak Italian the minute he stepped foot in USA. Don’t talk about integration. Spanish people love their language. You hear it every where. Italian Americans so proud but don’t speak it. I am Italian descent too but my Spanish mother made sure I knew Spanish. Mama Mia means “my mother “ in Spanish and all of us Hispanics know that!because we speak our language. What a shame that the beautiful Italian language is not taught, for the most part, in their homes.

[@you-in5iy]

Lots of European immigrants had bad times in their home countries.

[@masterjunky863]

We use "mamma mia" like "oh my mum", similar to "oh my god".

[@justhere3794]

@@masterjunky863 Same thing in Spanish. It’s not just “My mom”

[@dickhead402]

Me to no one took me to his grave I'm his hinz 57 mutt son I was always with him

[@accousticdecay]

I am cento per cento Italiano-Americano: cinquanta per cento Campanese, cinquanta per cento Calabrese.

[@Samael6685]

Questa matematica non mi torna....🤔

[@lrcavalli290]

Works for me

[@BEYONDYOURIQ]

Nutin like a salami sangwich

[@Clandsom]

Not a mosaic, a melting pot. We are one

[@CanisLupusItalicus]

I just want to go back to the place of my ancestors

[@claudiamarianidamato9499]

Why not bring up the lynchings racial segregation and discrimination that Italians had to endure? It was pretty significant.

[@josephinetracy1485]

For some reason, many Italians now kiss the asses of Anglos, Jews, and blacks. They're sure not GD nice to us! Their stupidity reins supreme, but the Italian values are gone. The bizarre, stupid, and destructive culture that they impose is suffocating.

[@brycebertolino7017]

Only thing, as business owners an entrepreneurs we kiss the Democrats goodbye. But Prohibition was very good to us

[@nicolavolpe7562]

Who are we? Scrivo in Italiano.Tenpo fa ascoltanto un programma radio qualcuno disse " Italians have no identity,"Ero appena arrivato dall'Italia e questo mi fece un po',' male ,ma non lo misi in dubbio poiche,'mi accorsi che ogniuno va per Le sue,senza aiutare I nuovi arrivato che Hanno molto da imparare,anzi ,vengono guardati come voler dire" impara Alla maniers dura

[@markgillogley912]

Maria Bartiromo, bella donna

[@rockyracoon3233]

I worship Maria's footprints!

[@giovanniserafino1731]

Yes, and now is possible for many Italian Americans to have dual citizenship, American/Italian! In becoming USA citizen you Italian ancestors had to renounce Italy and give up Italian citizenship.Now you can get it back. Please check your local Italian consulate . Viva l'Italia!

[@palermotrapani9067]

What are the rules? My Maternal Grandfather was born in Pallazo Adriano, Palermo Province Sicilia, but on my Fathers side, his Grandfather came over around 1903 (33 years old) from Trapani Province, Sicilia. I am 53 years old and thinking about doing that.

[@palermotrapani9067]

@Keyrings Locks Will do. My Paternal Great Grandfather actually never became a citizen. He applied in the 1920's, or petitioned, but it never got pass that. Reasons given, "none", that is what it says on the petition. So, given he never got pass the petition stage, he never had to renounce the King of Italy (I think there still was a King in the 1920's before Mussolini took over) and thus never renounced his Italian citizenship. My Paternal Grandfather was born near New Orleans so he was under current U.S. Law, same back then, a U.S. citizen. What I don't have is birth certificate or baptism records for my Great Grandfather and there was a serious earthquake that hit Trapani in 1968 and his town got leveled, I think they moved it away from where they found out the fault was. Hopefully, the records survived, particularly the Catholic Church records (sacrament of Baptism, Holy Matrimony, Requium Masses, etc.) since those can allow you to go way back.

[@raoufduc1441]

@@palermotrapani9067 if i may ask you do feel italian or american

[@palermotrapani9067]

@@raoufduc1441 I feel both. I am an American of Italian ancestry.

[@mcdouche2]

Victims group!!! What ever happened to Gary Cooper, the strong silent type?

[@Francesco-js8nk]

@ Sig. Secchia...small village of Milan which one? Italiano dall'Italia!

[@Francesco-js8nk]

@@f_gk_gd si si...we are waiting for you

[@dr.tomgio6694]

I have a feeling they are getting it wrong, as far as their classifying their generational status; according to U.S. law, the children of immigrants are still considered "stock". As long as you have one grandparent born outside the U.S., you are considered 1st generation.Three of my grandparents were born in the Kingdom of Italy and one was born in America, but of Italian descent. Both of my parents were born in the U.S. and are considered stock, not 1st generation. Those of my generation are first and our children are second. At least this was the way it was described to me.

[@vintageb8]

if you don't speak the language, then you're not "it"

[@Samael6685]

Fact

[@maxten]

Commendatorii ☕👌

[@ChrisTenalach77777]

What you makes great is not because you are American Italians. What you makes great is that you are Italians. And remember you came from a country that's the foundation of the western civilisation, Italia there is only one and there will be never a second one.

[@13bravoredleg18]

I’m 5th generation Italian!

[@ritanooney865]

Mi Familia - The Delta Italians book written by a retired priest

[@rafid_samin]

Robert De Niro and Al Pacino

[@renatomacchi2195]

Don't forget that we are Latin People the descendants of the Great Romans who created a System of laws (Roman Laws) and the Republican System of Government and spread their Latin Language, (Lingua Latina), Roman Laws and Christian Catholicism throughout most of Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. More than 2000 years of Roman rule.

[@Samael6685]

2800 to be precise

[@montyray6163]

I’m not Italian I just love blue 😁blue power 🟦🟦

[@dianelindenberger6941]

Then take the Sopranos show OFF of television.

[@rafaelf.espindolams]

🇺🇸🇮🇹

[@DavidFrehlini-y1y]

Ciao da Palermo. Americanu di Ascendenza Siciliana. E assai Fieru. Parramu la lingua Siciliana. Corleone Sicilia. Casa di miei Bisnonni. Ernesto e Adalina Frehlini. Riposa N Paci. Bisnonni. Diu Benedici America e La Sicilia. Bona notti.

[@ariesmike26]

Forgot loyal people and this is coming from an African-American male Italian Americans read along just like African-Americans built America.

[@dilampedusa]

Love every thing about this video except for the Cuomos.

[@romiromi1343]

THEY ARE IN PURGATORY ALL OF THEN

[@patrickgarcia4176]

Do you have to be 100% Italian to join NIAF?

[@masterjunky863]

Even most Italians from Italy aren't 100% Italian

[@Samael6685]

No. You must be 100% american

[@nicolavolpe7562]

After 50 years of America e by excident I googled 1861 history of Italy and I learned what Italian history school books don't let you know,that all the news papers like 'il progresso' didn,'t tell at any time how the Kingdom of two sicilie was taken from us, This is the reason Italians that didn't turn fighters (briganti)20 years after came in America in rags .The day was briganti o emigranti ..Only 20 years early they were the third economical power of Europe and Napoli the biggest city in Europe second only to London.I read All i could and find out so much after which I was sack to my stomach for a month..IF you want to talk about italians Eritage you must start from 1860 and all that was and happen in the south.of Italy in the Kingdom of two SIcilies..Outrage and pride tool over me but most of all for the first time I was able to answer that radio voice that said ( Italians have no identity) I have an identity and is one I am veri proud of no tanks to the American Italian that deprive information from the rest of us..Maybe they are that 5%that nubbbed us being from piemontesi discendent.

[@rosaborbotti4899]

italo americani?? ma come è possibile che neanche uno parli un po d'italiano.

[@Samael6685]

Gli americani hanno una crisi d'identità e ben poca vergogna

[@marysalerno467]

I'm 100% Italian, my granddaughters are not. What is the minimum accepted percentage?

[@jax408]

🇮🇹 🇺🇸 🇮🇹 🇺🇸 🇮🇹