The Italian American One Voice Coalition (IAOVC) is campaigning against those who aim to eradicate Columbus Day by enacting measures to get all Italian Americans involved in defending our heritage and saving our holiday. The IAOVC is asking Italian American friends and organizations to sign the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Save Columbus Day Petition by visiting www.savecolumbusday. com. A special request has also been made to the government through the “We the People” petition which aims to organize official White House celebrations to recognize and endorse Columbus Day and the Italian American community. To sign this, click here.

​Call me crazy but I sense a sea change. What do I mean? In the last six months I have been pleasantly surprised in seeing complimentary and often flattering stories in the media about Italian Americans.

​Doctor Manny Alfano, the president of the Italian American One Voice Coalition, is today asking New York gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino to issue an apology for his recent insensitive remarks denigrating Italian-Americans.

The Study below was done during the showing of “The Sopranos” years ago. Now with the introducing of the many realities shows and the increase in negative stereotypic shows and movies do you think if this study was done today would the results be different.   Read the results to the Final Exam questions in “The Mafia and the Movies: The Construction of the Image of Italians and Italian Americans in the Movies” (Ben Lawton, Chair Italian Studies; Chair, Film Studies, Purdue University).   They surveyed 40 students in their respective organizations, in some cases where they lived, and they came up with some amusing replies when questioning about Italian Americans. They surveyed a fraternity, sorority, and a co-op. It broke down like this.

​In a recent article about the use of the image of Michelangelo’s statue David, we cited an advertising industry organization, the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) standards of practice. At the end of the article we wrote “stay tuned”. We had also written about our campaign against AFLAC’s commercial again depicting Italian Americans in negative light. After writing those articles, we learned that our efforts were not solitary. In fact we began to receive copies of letters and emails of support for our efforts from several national organizations, some of whom are Italian American groups. We received support messages from UNICO national and chapters as well as from the Order of the Sons of Italy’s New York State Lodge’s Commission for Social Justice.

​Many of you are aware of the unacceptable remarks made by Los Angeles Clippers owner, Donald Sterling and Nevada cattle rancher, Cliven Bundy, about African Americans. Senator Harry Reid is also advocating the elimination of the Washington Redskins name on behalf of Native Americans.

​Years ago while anchoring a very popular TV morning show I was approached by another anchor at the station. He was an older African American man who admired my outfit. What he said next I’ll never forget. “You look terrific in that suit and tie. Just like a made man.” A ‘made’ man as in a Mafia soldier. I found it odd and told him as much. I said, as sternly as I could, ‘That is not only not funny, but no longer acceptable,’ and walked away.