Italians in New Orleans

Central Grocery, an Italian-American grocery store in New Orleans where the muffuletta started in America. In 1906, Salvadore Lupo, owner of the Central Grocery, invented the muffuletta sandwich to feed fellow Sicilian immigrates. New Orleans has a historical Italian-American population. As of 2004 those identifying as of Italian descent were the largest ethnic group of Europeans in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area, numbering around 250,000.[1]

Italians have had a presence in the area since the explorations of the Europeans,[2] Many Sicilians immigrated to New Orleans in the 19th century, traveling on the Palermo-New Orleans route by ship.[3] but most immigrated in the late 19th century, and most were from Sicily.[4] The number of Italians who immigrated in the late 19th century greatly exceeded those who had come before the American Civil War.[5]

In 1890 the ethnic Irish chief of police, David Hennessy was assassinated.[6] Suspicion fell on Italians, whose growing numbers in the city made other whites nervous.[7] It was the largest ever mass lynching in Louisiana history.[7] The use of the term "mafia" by local media in relation to the murder is the first-known usage of the word in print.

Geography

"Little Palermo" was established by recent immigrants in the lower French Quarter. So many Italians settled here that some suggested the area should be renamed as "The Sicilian Quarter" in the early 20th century. As time passed and they became established, many Italian-Americans moved out of New Orleans and to the suburbs.[4]

Economy

Historically many corner stores in New Orleans were owned by Italians. Progresso Foods originated as a New Orleans Italian-American business.[4] The business established by the Vaccaro brothers later became Standard Fruit.[5]

After they first arrived, Italian immigrants generally took low-wage laboring jobs, which they could accomplish without being able to speak English.[5] They worked on docks, in macaroni factories, and in nearby sugar plantations. Some went to the French Market to sell fruit.[4] Italian workers became a significant presence in the French Market.[5]

Organizations

In 1843 the Società Italiana di Mutua Beneficenza was established. The San Bartolomeo Society, established by immigrants from Ustica, was established in 1879. As of 2004 it is the oldest Italian-American society in New Orleans. Joseph Maselli, an ethnic Italian from New Orleans, founded the first pan-U.S. Italian-American federation of organizations.[3]

The American Italian Cultural Center honors and celebrates the area's Italian-American heritage and culture. The AICC houses the American Italian Museum, with exhibits about the history and contributions of Italian-Americans to the region. The Piazza d'Italia is a local monument dedicated to the Italian-American community of New Orleans.

Recreation

On St. Joseph's Day, ethnic Sicilians in the New Orleans area establish altars.[4] On that day marches organized by the Italian-American Marching Club occur. The club, which welcomes anyone of Italian origins, started in 1971 and as of 2004 has more than 1,500 members.[1]

Italian Americans originally established the Krewe of Virgilians because they were unable to join other Krewes in the Mardi Gras. In 1936 the krewes crowned their first queen, Marguerite Piazza, who worked in the New Orleans Metropolitan Opera.[3]

Cuisine

Italians in New Orleans brought with them many dishes from Sicilian cuisine and broader Italian cuisines, which influenced the Cuisine of New Orleans. Many food businesses and restaurants were started by Italians in New Orleans. Progresso, now a large Italian food brand, was started by Sicilian immigrants to New Orleans. Angelo Brocato's an Italian Ice Cream parlor and bakery, established in 1905 by a Sicilian immigrant, is still in existence today. Central Grocery, still in business, also founded by a Sicilian immigrant, originated the muffaletta sandwich, served on the traditional Sicilian muffaletta bread.

Angelo Brocato's

Notable people

References

  • Maselli, Joseph and Dominic Candeloro. Italians in New Orleans (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing, 2004. ISBN 0738516929, 9780738516929.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Maselli and Candeloro, p. 8.
  2. ↑ Maselli and Candeloro, p. 9.
  3. 1 2 3 Maselli and Candeloro, p. 7.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Maggi, Laura. "Italian immigrants: The Times-Picayune covers 175 years of New Orleans history." The Times-Picayune. January 29, 2012. Retrieved on August 28, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Huber, Leonard Victor. New Orleans: A Pictorial History. Pelican Publishing, 1971. ISBN 1455609315, 9781455609314. p. 56.
  6. ↑ "1890: New Orleans police chief is assassinated." The Times-Picayune. September 24, 2011. Retrieved on August 28, 2014.
  7. 1 2 "ANTI-ITALIAN MOOD LED TO 1891 LYNCHINGS" (Archive). The Times-Picayune. March 14, 1991. p. B1. Retrieved on August 28, 2014.

Further reading

  • Rimanelli, Marco and Sheryl Lynn Postman. The 1891 New Orleans Lynchings and U.S.-Italian Relations: A Look Back (Volume 2 of Studies in Southern Italian and Italian-American Culture). P. Lang, 1992. ISBN 082041672X, 9780820416724. - See Google Books profile
  • Falco, Ed. "When Italian immigrants were 'the other'" (Opinion) (Archive). CNN. July 10, 2012.
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