Chapter V, The Italians Summary and Analysis

Italian Americans descend from Southern Italian immigrants and cultural differences among Italians are important. Italian Americans come in large numbers to the United States, more than all other immigrants to the Western Hemisphere put together. Italians have a rich and ancient history, but Italy is always divided between the better educated and more industrious North from the more rural South. It has weaknesses agriculturally and industrially due to geographic conditions.

The people of the South have an unusual history of great impoverishment and subjugation. Initiative is discouraged and the poor are oppressed. Many leave when they have the chance and resemble the Irish in various respects. Some of their institutions, like the vendetta and the Mafia, are ways of striking back; they have strong familial ties as well. They often feel alienated from organized religion...