Text:
“The Odyssey of a Wop” (excerpt of about 500 words from pp. 138–39) from The Wine of Youth: Selected Stories by John Fante. Copyright © 1940 by John Fante. Copyright © 1985 by Joyce Fante. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
Images:
Ship manifest: Laurie Fabiano personal collection
Group at table: Laurie Fabiano personal collection
Italian couple: Alan Christian personal collection
Italian-American family in kitchen: Maria Laurino personal collection
Cassata Siciliana: Photograph by Paul Cary Goldberg
Eataly counter: Photograph by Virginia Rollison
Roseto banner: Courtesy of The Italian Americans documentary
Men in box being lowered: Photograph by Steve Schapiro
Women working at sewing machines: Photograph by Steve Schapiro
Baker holding two bread loaves: Photograph by Steve Schapiro
Gold horn (cornetto): Photograph by Chris Leary
Woman in crown and white dress: Photograph by Steve Schapiro
Girl in white dress: Courtesy of The Italian Americans documentary
Prosecco glass: Shutterstock stock photograph
Adriana Trigiani: Photograph by Tim Stephenson
Espresso pot: Photograph by Chris Leary
Two women on donkey: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-73453]
Peasants and donkey in courtyard: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-73730]
Family of peasants: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, National Child Labor Committee Collection [LC-USZ62-93129]
Peasants picking lemons in Sicily: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-73485]
Italian peasant girl: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-DIG-ppmsca-08349]
Waiting to board ship: Paolo Cresci Foundation
Garibaldi on horse: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-DIG-pga-02437]
Peasants on street: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-73454]
Two men hanging: Special and Digital Collections, Tampa Library, University of South Florida
Banana vendors: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-131516]
David Hennessy: Courtesy of The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2006.024.11
“To Hunt the Assassins” newspaper clip: Courtesy of The Italian Americans documentary
“Assassinated” newspaper clip: Courtesy of The Italian Americans documentary
Mafia cartoon: © Bettmann/Corbis
“None Guilty” newspaper clip: Courtesy of The Italian Americans documentary
Parish prison: Courtesy of The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 1974.25.3.259
Inmates in courtyard: Courtesy of The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 1974.25.25.228
Mulberry Street: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZC4-1584]
Immigrants waiting on dock: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-11203]
Inspection of arriving immigrants: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZC4-4656]
Laborer shoveling: Center for Migration Studies
Derogatory sheet music: “I Break-a da Stones” sheet music, Balch Institute Sheet Music Collection [3141], Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Women working in silk mill: Center for Migration Studies
Workers at macaroni factory: Center for Migration Studies
Collage of immigration photographs and documents: Courtesy of B. Amore
Ancestor panel (great-grandmother): Courtesy of B. Amore
Nineteenth-century artifacts: Courtesy of B. Amore
Ancestor panel (great-grandfather): Courtesy of B. Amore
Clam vendor: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-D401-13642]
Bread sellers: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-63005]
Black Hand members: Courtesy of The Italian Americans documentary
Lt. Joseph Petrosino escorting a Black Hand criminal with other police officers: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-137644]
“Bomb shakes” newspaper clip: Laurie Fabiano personal collection
Angelina Siena: Laurie Fabiano personal collection
Giuseppe Petrosino: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-DIG-ggbain-03609]
Black Hand letters: Courtesy of The Italian American Museum
Main Street, San Francisco: J. B. Monaco Photograph Collection, San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Crab fisherman: © Bettmann/Corbis
Man with fish on line: Geoffrey Dunn personal collection
Grocery store: Courtesy of the California Historical Society, CHS2014.I60
San Francisco earthquake: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-47147]
A. P. Giannini: J. B. Monaco Photograph Collection, San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Souvenir scavengers: U.S. National Archives
Bank of Italy: J. B. Monaco Photograph Collection, San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Spoons: Photograph by Chris Leary
Mother with three children: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, National Child Labor Committee Collection [LC-DIG-nclc-04116]
Rolling pin and ravioli cutter: Photograph by Chris Leary
Social worker visiting family: © Underwood & Underwood/Corbis
Family in crowded home, Providence, Rhode Island: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, National Child Labor Committee Collection [LC-DIG-nclc-02721]
Leonard Covello: Portrait of Leonard Covello, Leonard Covello Papers [MSS 040], Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Passport: Alane Salierno Mason personal collection
Schoolboy: Library of Congress, Prints & Photograph Division [LC-DIG-ggbain-14196]
Schoolgirls: Library of Congress, Prints & Photograph Division [LC-DIG-ggbain-14198]
Embroidered heart: Courtesy of B. Amore
Family in front of store: Courtesy of The Italian American Museum
Rudolph Valentino: Library of Congress, Prints & Photograph Division [LC-USZ62-90327]
“A Wop” cartoon: Stock Montage/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Lawrence strike meeting: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-DIG-ggbain-10185]
Striking millworkers: Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Giovannitti and Ettor postcard: David Giovannitti personal collection
Children of Lawrence strikers: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-98168]
Children’s exodus: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-DIG-ggbain-10241]
Child working in mill: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, National Child Labor Committee Collection [LC-DIG-nclc-01668]
Group of child millworkers: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, National Child Labor Committee Collection [LC-DIG-nclc-02370]
IWW “Bread or Revolution” hat card: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-22190]
Giovannitti writing collage: David Giovannitti personal collection
San Gennaro festival: Photograph by Michael Shorris
Communion girls: Alan Christian personal collection
Communion boys: Alane Salierno Mason personal collection
Our Lady of Sorrows: Photograph by Michael Shorris
Our Lady of Mount Carmel procession: Alane Salierno Mason personal collection
Communion collage: Photograph by Chris Leary
Crucifix: Photograph by Chris Leary
Our Lady of Mount Carmel float: Courtesy of The Italian Americans documentary
Madonna and bread loaves: Photograph by Paul Cary Goldberg
Ransacked room: Joseph A. Labadie Collection, University of Michigan
La Cronaca Sovversiva pamphlet: Center for Migration Studies
Anarchists marching: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-33538]
Gruppo Autonomo pamphlet: Center for Migration Studies
Palmer house after explosion: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-DIG-npcc-33288]
Sacco and Vanzetti: © Bettmann/Corbis
Sacco and Vanzetti poster: Daily Worker/Daily World Photographs Collection, Tamiment Library, New York University
Angela Bambace and mother: Mindy Camponeschi personal collection
Angela Bambace and sons: Mindy Camponeschi personal collection
Dumping whiskey during Prohibition: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-12142]
Women at a speakeasy: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images
Italian-American social club: Alane Salierno Mason personal collection
Genna family: Popperfoto/Popperfoto/Getty Images
St. Valentine’s Day massacre: © Bettmann/Corbis
Nut cracker and picks: Photograph by Chris Leary
La Guardia and Rossi: Rose Marie Cleese personal collection
Tammany Tiger: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZC4-10303]
La Guardia with wife and child: The La Guardia and Wagner Archives, La Guardia Community College/The City University of New York
Organ grinder: © Bettmann/Corbis
Sewing machine and dresses: Courtesy of B. Amore
La Guardia pouring alcoholic beverage: © Bettmann/Corbis
La Guardia and Vito Marcantonio: Gerald Meyer collection
WPA and union card: Alane Salierno Mason personal collection
Daniel Celentano painting: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC/Art Resource, NY
La Guardia smashing slot machines: Hulton Archive/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Union art: Alane Salierno Mason personal collection
Fascist gathering in New Jersey: Center for Migration Studies
Giovannitti poem: David Giovannitti personal collection
Mussolini: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USW 33-000890-ZC]
President Franklin Roosevelt and Generoso Pope: Paul D. Pope and the Pope Media Center LLC collection
Arturo Toscanini poster: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-DIG-ggbain-32153]
Albert Onesti with soldiers: Ron Onesti personal collection
“Keep ’em Flying” poster: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI collection [LC-USW3-015095-D]
“Stamp ’Em Out!” poster: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZC2-1142]
Rosina Bonavita and fellow worker: Joseph T. Hickey personal collection
World War II flag raising ceremony: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI collection [LC-USW 3-006904-E]
Tony Bennett and mother: Tony Bennett family personal collection
Women celebrating child’s birthday: Alan Christian personal collection
Locals celebrating Italy’s surrender: Daily Worker/Daily World Photographs Collection, Tamiment Library, New York University
Chef Boy-Ar-Dee ad: Apic/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Gay Talese: Courtesy The Italian Americans documentary
Missoula, Montana internment camp: Courtesy of the National Japanese American Historical Society. Donated by Goro and Nobi Asaki
Celestina Stagnaro Loero: Geoffrey Dunn personal collection
Men in internment camp: Courtesy of the National Japanese American Historical Society. Donated by Goro and Nobi Asaki
Men on wharf: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USF34-081790-E]
Joe DiMaggio with parents: Underwood Archives/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Angelo J. Rossi with siblings: Rose Marie Cleese personal collection
Knock ’Em on Their Axis: National Archives photo no. 179-WP-772
ID cards (beginning upper left): Geoffrey Dunn personal collection, Anthony Tamburri personal collection, Geoffrey Dunn personal collection, Stephanie Romeo personal collection
Notice to Enemy Aliens poster: Courtesy of the Japanese American National Library
Alessi espresso pot: “La cupola, Espresso coffee maker,” designed in 1988 by Aldo Rossi. Courtesy of Alessi
Theater marquee: Photofest Digital
Dean Martin: Photofest Digital
Tony Bennett: Photofest Digital
Frank Sinatra: Photofest Digital
Davis, Martin, and Sinatra: Photofest Digital
Madonna on cross: Dave Hogan/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Lady Gaga: Photofest Digital
Dion DiMucci: Courtesy of The Italian Americans documentary
Gasoline book cover: Copyright © 1958 by City Lights Books. Reprinted by permission of City Lights Books. Photograph by Michael Shorris
Gregory Corso: Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Mario Savio: Steven Marcus Photograph, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley
Diana Di Prima: Photograph by William F. Wilson
Frank Costello: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-120716]
Family on patio: Alane Salierno Mason personal collection
Estes Kefauver: © Bettmann/Corbis
Kefauver billboard: Michael Rougier/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Frank Costello’s hands: Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Carlo Gambino “family” chart: © Bettmann/Corbis
Florence Scala: Casa Italia, Chicago
Marlon Brando: Photofest Digital
Mario Puzo: Bernard Gotfryd/Premium Archives/Getty Images
Francis Ford Coppola directing The Godfather: Photograph by Steve Schapiro
John Gotti: Photofest Digital
The Sopranos: Photofest Digital
John Travolta: Photofest Digital
Jersey Shore’s Pauly D.: Photofest Digital
Mob Wives: Newscom
David Chase: Courtesy of The Italian Americans documentary
John Turturro: Courtesy of The Italian Americans documentary
Mario Cuomo: Photograph by Janie Eisenberg
Geraldine Ferraro and Walter Mondale: © Bettmann/Corbis
Italian grandmothers: Stephanie Romeo personal collection
Justice Antonin Scalia: The Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States
Political buttons: Photograph by Chris Leary
Nancy Pelosi swearing-in: Pelosi family personal collection
Andrew Cuomo and daughters: Courtesy of the Governor’s Office
De Blasio “One of Us” poster: Photograph by Luigi Maria Mongillo
Nancy Pelosi: Courtesy of The Italian Americans documentary
Eataly counter: Photograph by Virginia Rollison
Sant Ambroeus espresso bar: Photograph by Michael Shorris
1940s espresso machine: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI collection [LC-USW 3-006923-E]
Mario Batali: Photograph by Melanie Dunea
Tuscan countryside: Photograph by Michael Shorris
Painting: Iceman Crucified #3, Ralph Fasanella (1914–1997). New York, 1956. Oil on canvas. 48¾ x 37¾ in. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Patricia L. and Maurice C. Thompson Jr., 1991.11.1. Photograph by Gavin Ashworth, New York
Encyclopedic Palace: Photograph by Michael Shorris
Encyclopedic Palace detail: Photograph by Michael Shorris
Fig tree: Shutterstock stock photograph