Most Americans think Columbus Day stems back to 1642, but the holiday is actually tied to a mass murder that happened in Louisiana in the 19th century. After 9 Sicilian immigrants, 1 Sicilian American and 1 Italian American were lynched in New Orleans on March 14, 1891, President Benjamin Harrison tried to maintain diplomatic relations with Italy and secure the Italian American vote by establishing Columbus Day in 1892.
It would take another 130 years for Chicagoans to mark October as Italian American Heritage Month, following a special proclamation made by Congress and President George H. W. Bush in 1989. This August, the Chicago Cubs recognized the community with a special Italian Heritage baseball cap giveaway. For those who missed that, here are 5 other ways to tip your hat to the contributions of Italian Americans.
Bone up on Italian American History
On the YouTube channel NYTN, Danielle Romero offers both a personal and historical perspective on the nuances of the Southern Italian American experience. For additional information on the often overlooked challenges of Italian Americans, check out these articles:
- How Italians Became ‘White’
- Why America Targeted Italian-Americans During World War II
- Twenty Million Italian‐Americans
- The Woman Who Paved the Way: Charismatic congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro forged a path for women in American politics
- Hollywood’s Mafia Hypocrisy
Don’t Watch Mafia Movies
Despite a glut of gangster caricatures generated by the entertainment industry, less than .0025% of Italian Americans make up organized crime. So skip the mob movies, and take a look at the following productions instead.
Cabrini (2024)
In this biopic distributed by Angel Studios, Cristiana Dell’Anna portrays Mother Frances Cabrini, the Italian immigrant turned Italian American who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to provide humane provisions to the poor at the end of the 18th century. In 2020, Colorado replaced Columbus Day with Frances Xavier Cabrini Day.
The Italian Americans (2015)
Stanley Tucci narrates this PBS documentary which chronicles four generations of Italian Americans while addressing and dispelling stereotypes in pop culture. The series can be steamed for a small fee on several platforms.
Moonstruck (1987)
Even though Cher is of Armenian heritage, she and Greek American Olympia Dukakis were so convincing as Italian American women in Moonstruck, they both received Oscars and Golden Globes for their performances. John Patrick Shanley also picked up an Academy Award and the WGA for his original screenplay. This romantic comedy (which features Italian Americans Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia and Danny Aiello) can be streamed for free on Tubi and Pluto TV.
L’Arminuta (2021)
In honor of Italian American Heritage Month, Casa Italia will screen L’Arminuta at its community center (Oct. 25). The award-winning drama is based on Donatella Di Pietrantonio’s same-named novel of 2017. The English version “A Girl Returned” was published in 2019.
Read a Book
The Chicago Public Library staff has compiled a list of books by and about Italian Americans which includes:
- “Paper Fish” (1996) by Chicago native Tina De Rosa
- “Very Valentine” (2009) by Adriana Trigiani
- “The Fortunate Pilgrim” (2018) by Mario Puzo
- “Life With My Sister Madonna” (2008) by Christopher Ciccone
- “The Last Man Who Knew Everything: The Life and Times of Enrico Fermi, Father of the Nuclear Age” (2017) by David N. Schwartz
- “My American Dream: A Life of Love, Family, and Food” (2018) by Lidia Bastianich
- “Giada’s Italy My Recipes for La Dolce Vita” (2018) by Giada De Laurentiis
Wine and Dine
Prior to Chicagoland’s Italian Restaurant Week (Oct. 21-27), the International Wine Expo (Oct. 20-21) will take place on Navy Pier thanks to Veronafiere, the Italian American Chamber of Commerce Midwest, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), and Assocamerestero.
Attend a Show
The Des Plaines Theatre celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Oscar and Grammy winner Henry Mancini with The Music of Henry Mancini (Oct 20). The venue will also open its doors for Make America Italian Again: Standup Comedy with Mike Marino (Oct. 24).
Italian American Heritage month spills over into November with Sebastian Maniscalco’s It Ain’t Right tour. If the United Center (Nov. 8-9) shows are sold out, there’s another at the Peoria Civic Center (Dec. 13). “Join me in laughing at the wrongs in this shameless world!,” says the top-ranking comedian and Arlington Heights native.
During a special live taping of The Shy Vaudevillian at Chicago’s Den Theatre (Nov. 14), Christine Ferrera will take audiences through the history of comedy. Along the way, the stand-up comic and granddaughter of Sicilian immigrants will ponder why feminism isn’t funny.