Assignment 2

Perine, Sha

Writing Assignment #2

Identity is difficult to define. It is a noun that is based off of perceptions and feelings, which are both drawn from opinions. No matter what numbers and stereotypes tell us, the person can only truly define one’s identity himself or herself.  Though stereotypes are built off of a piece of truth, but looked down upon when used to identify someone, they are often all that anyone initially has to explain and describe someone else. Even after learning so much information about Romans and Italians, interpretation will differ within people no matter the intentions of the teacher of whichever lesson. As the essay “To hell with Intentions” made me realize, someone can intend something and the outcome of their intentions can be completely in vain because it was not received in the way of which they meant it to. So while my purpose and goal of this assignment is to share what I have learned and show what I have taken away from the experience, I hope that it is not offensive to anyone.

As every race, culture and ethnicity has myths and stereotypes connected to it, Romans and Italians do as well. Before coming to Rome, I thought of Italians as hustlers. Al Pacino gave me the idea that any and every Italian has ulterior motives and possibly apart of the Italian Mob, also that they aren’t well educated. I never thought more into Italians past their great food and interesting accents. As far as “Romans” go, I automatically think of the bible days, the way that it says they would dress and “Roman Catholics.” Then I would think of Gladiator the movie and the fighting, but I never knew much about them as a people. Romans are the people of Rome but they are not easy to spot with the naked eye, as far as I have been able to see, they fit in as other native Italians. Then the question “what is a native Italian” is raised. Well I would say that a native Italian is one that has a lineage of Italian roots and was born in Italy. Then someone else might say that they don’t have to have lineage in a country to be a native. Identity is ultimately left up for interpretation.

The Italian government seems to make it quite difficult for many people in Italy to identify them as an Italian. In America, when a child is born on American soil, they are American. Well in Italy, even after being born there, their citizenship is not given to them as a right. As Ezekiel from Second Generation told us, in Italy citizenship is not a right and is not given to everyone; each person applies for citizenship at the age of eighteen and can either be granted or denied. This causes a potential issue for native Italians and immigrants. This furthers the issue of their possibly not even being an explicit Italian identity because things like citizenship cause there to be a perpetual divide. 

            Even for the people who immigrate to Italy, whether it is forced or willingly, they fall between the cracks. Then their children are left to identify with what they adopt. Some choose to identify with where they come from and others pick up the new culture. Alpha, the Senegalese man who works with Ezekiel, was born and raised in Italy and feels as though he is Italian. He’s comfortable here and has made it home.  Since he is “Black” and his parents are not from Italy, he is often not recognized as Italian.

Today, Brittany was telling our group about a man who told her that culture was based off of language. Further saying that she can no longer consider herself to be Italian because she speaks more English. This idea fascinated me because it reminds me of the Roma. Many people who don’t understand their culture think that they are underdeveloped and don’t want to be helped because of the conditions that they are put in and it may be that they are holding on to their culture. It is possible that some of them don’t want to go to school and learn another language and assimilate, they just wanted to change their location.

Until there is a clear and improved system built around citizenship in Italy and where immigrants and ineligible natives fall, identity will continue to be a struggle. There are too many dysfunctional aspects of the process and understanding to distinctly depict the true image and identity of an Italian. As of right now, I believe Italian identity to be what each individual considers it to be. Those who belong, feel like they belong and if they do not, then they will eventually emigrate out of Italy as some form of discomfort brought them to Italy.