ABSTRACT

Looking back on their and their ancestors' early immigrant experiences in America, many Italian Americans, especially since the 1970s, have prided themselves on making it in America by working hard and shunning government assistance. Examining interviews of Chicago's Italian Americans conducted in the early 1980s, The author came across these views over and over again. These views—coming to life most forcefully during the post-1960s "backlash" years—address far more than simply the value of hard work and the proper role of the federal government; they are also deeply about race. This chapter examines where Italians were located within America's developing racial order and what consequences this had on their everyday lives and opportunities. The chapter is written as an invitation to other scholars to further explore Italians' (and other immigrants') encounters with race in the United States.