The essays prepared for this symposium range from the scholarly and highly structured to the impressionistic and subjective. Together, they comprise a substantive exploration of Italian American life and serve as a model for research into American ethnicity. In the papers three different areas are addressed: (1) current research and issues in the…

An exploratory research study was undertaken to determine the extent of drug abuse in three ethnic neighborhoods. The nature and scope of drug use among Italian and Polish Americans in three working class neighborhoods were examined in the light of the role class and cultural identity plays in the development and treatment of drug abuse. Results…

The literature of Polish, Greek and Italian American women has been largely neglected in the American literary tradition. Through an analysis of female characters in a number of white ethnic autobiographical novels, this paper stresses the importance of an awareness of women's struggles which coincide with immigration history. It also points out…

Asserts that the history of white ethnics has been written far too long as the story of disorganization and disintegration. Argues that the themes of rebirth and creativity should be explored, discarding the myth of the American as a new man emerging after stripping away Old World traditions and institutions. (Author/RJ)

The ethnic press has played a vital role in the assimilation and the social and geographic mobility of immigrant groups. Its coverage of and editorial positions on ethnic relations, "Americanization," news and events occurring in the country of origin, the issue of language retention, and labor and economic concerns have influenced this…

Attitudes towards receiving professional services were measured among Italian American and Greek American college students (N=232) attending schools in the Northeast. Italian American women had greater recognition of the need for help and increased confidence in counseling than the men did. Greek women were also more willing to seek counseling.…

Social studies textbooks need careful inspection with regard to how they treat ethnicity. Although there have been several studies of possible bias in textbooks, there are methodological concerns that need further deliberation. Content analysis has been called a "technique for systematic inference from communications," and it may be viewed as a…

This research report summarizes data on six immigrant groups residing in the New York City borough of Queens: Colombians, Greeks, Italians, Koreans, Indians, and Israelis. Data on which this report is based include aggregate qualitative data, analysis of previous surveys, data from other projects and public agencies, and a review of scholarly and…

Traces the history of the Italian migration to the United States and their transition to American life. Describes changing trends in housing patterns, social mobility, educational attainment, social organizations and political and cultural orientations. (EH)

Elementary school students who were recent immigrants from Puerto Rico, Haiti, Greece, Italy, Hong Kong and Israel participated in this after school program. The goal of the program was to increase student proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English. Ninety-seven students from two elementary schools were selected on the basis of…

A STRONG INFLUENCE ON THE NATURE OF ITALIAN INSTRUCTION TODAY IN THE UNITED STATES IS THE FACT THAT ITALO-AMERICANS SHOW LESS ORGANIZED INTEREST IN THEIR LANGUAGE THAN DO OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS, AS EVIDENCED BY COMPARING NEWSPAPER PUBLICATIONS IN DIFFERENT MOTHER TONGUES, RADIO LANGUAGE PROGRAMS, AND LANGUAGE MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATIONS WHERE, IN EACH…

This curriculum guide contains information, materials, and resources dealing with Italian Americans and Italian American culture. The guide is organized into 5 units, each presenting a major theme related to the history of Italian Americans from their immigration to their integration into American society. Each unit provides historical and…

Developed as part of an ethnic heritage studies program, this historical narrative of Italian Americans can enhance cultural awareness. This document presents the story of Italians beginning with cultural roots in Italy and their subsequent emigration to the United States, including to South Bend, Indiana. Four major areas are explored. An account…

This annotated bibliography contains evaluations of selected source materials in ethnic studies for teachers and students. It is divided into Multi-Ethnic Resources, Italian-American Resources, Polish-American and Slavic-American Resources, German-American Resources, and Norwegian- and Swedish-American Resources. At the end of every annotated…

A chronological analysis of the fictional writings of Americans of Italian ancestry, this book constitutes a record of the interaction of two cultures, immigrant and established, within the composition of American civilization. The materials are divided into three parts: the first part contains an analysis of representative autobiographies as a…