MLA 2018: From Anarchism to Assimilation: The Making of Italian Americans
In conjunction with the MLA theme: #States of Insecurity, this panel seeks contributions that complicate notions of assimilation and the assimilated Italian American. How has Italian American radicalization been minimized, erased, or marginalized in favor of the assimilation tale of struggle, hard work, and success? How have Italian radical migrants’ stories been homogenized by the mythic and legal processes of assimilation, including the Alien Registration Act? How have other ethnic and racial minorities used the example of Italian American assimilation to create their assimilation stories? Seeking contributions especially in gender studies, race and ethnic studies, urban studies, working class studies, and digital humanities.