Focus on your research on "ITALIAN AMERICANS, NEW ORLEANS 1891, LYNCHING" and on SALVETTI's article (on the course homepage.)
What kind of insight did you gain into the practice of lynching? Were you aware that it was not just an act of revenge or brute rage, but a method of repression exercised by the dominant class on a subordinate class? Is anything similar happening today?
BE CONCISE: process your emotions and analyze your thoughts. Then, give your answers. Handle with care.
When I read about lynching I had some insight that it would be a method of repression by a dominant group. Its very similar to the Salem witch trials where groups of people gathered together and accused someone of practicing satanism (mostly woman). Typically it was done by stoning the person to death or by the same process of lynching. Its a little disturbing to know that innocent people were hung without trial. Today I see it mostly in the government housing industry. Originally the government housing "projects" was an experiment, but it still goes on. The government puts a majority of poor families in small housing units, almost like putting rats in a shoe-box. The rats will have nothing to do but mate, once the available resources are gone, the rats will kill their own to survive. Having many that can't afford to pay for school, let alone rent, they naturally resort to criminal acts which for the most part ends in a homicide or prison. In addition they are only limited to low paying jobs, as they don't have credentials to advance. The government in a sense keeps the poor from moving up in the hierarchy.
ReplyDeleteFrom researching and reading about the lynchings of Italian Americans I was unaware that this took place. I was aware of the normality of lynching, such as photos of families would be taken in front of a person who was lynched and sent as postcards. What surprised me most was that the largest group lynched was not African Americans but Italian Americans. I can see how this is used as a mechanism to sustain order and power. According to Salvetti these people were regular members of society who believed it their place to sustain the norms of the American way of life and bring consequences to those who disrupted that. I do not understand why there is such a deep hatred or a deep need to be superior. I do not think that there is something overtly obvious as lynching going on today but there are situations were I see policeman abusing their power. Predominantly males Hispanic or Black are targeted by police and unjustly arrested. I was once unjustly arrested and it made me realized the abuse of power and injustice that goes unchecked in the system.
ReplyDeleteWhen I researched lynching, I found out how it was another form of harsh punishment and that it is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate a minority group. During the 1891 lynching of Italian Americans in New Orleans which was America's largest mass lynching in it's history, the Americans wanted to show dominance by beating and berating them. The lynchings were followed by mass arrests of Italian immigrants throughout New Orleans, and waves of attacks against Italians nationwide. In addition to prejudice based on ethnicity, Italian immigrants also had to face other hostilities toward themselves. They were not welcomed in America. We tend to forget the depth of prejudice and outright hatred faced by Italian immigrants in America during that time. Some of these actions are still prevalent to this very day. There are many examples of this in the news. Racism is prevalent. It is just the harsh realities of today.
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ReplyDeleteSalvetti's article gave a deep insight into what was lyjnching like for the minority groups. I was feeling bad for the people who had to go through the lynching because they were from a certain minority. Before reading this article i wasn't aware that some ethnic groups had to go through this brutal process.
The “lynching” was to stop Italian’s come into America. The Americans were dominant against them because they wanted to keep the Italians out of their soil and taking over the land. Something similar that is happening today is outsourcing. Many large companies are moving overseas in order to maximize the companies’ profit, which leads to many Americans moving with them to have a better financial opportunity in a different country. The only emotion I have for this is, is to see how people are struggling to keep a roof over their head and it's very painful to watch.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading about lynching, I really felt horrible that they did it for no good reason. What I really felt bad about was when they exhibited scenes through photographs of lynching involving african americans but barely any of the italian americans. Therefore, people wont think much damage was done to them or as if they weren't truly a part of this horrible death experience. I was not aware of how much was done to the Italian Americans and after reading these articles, I am more understanding of it.
ReplyDeleteThe insight I gained was that lynching was way more brutal than I originally thought. I would say that lynching definitely occurs today, maybe not as brutal as before but it definitely occurs today.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading the piece, I had always associated lynching as an action taken against African Americans in the southern U.S. mainly during the Reconstruction era. As a result, I was aware of the fact that the practice has been frequently used as a method of repression and intimidation. However, I never thought about lynching being used against Italian Americans until this assignment. The article and the research I did into the New Orleans incident helped open my eyes and discover a large part of United States history I had never previously considered.
ReplyDeleteAgree! I was thinking the same thing too when doing this assessment. I would of never thought this happen to the Italians too.
DeleteLynching was always something that remained in my mind as foreign. Never relating lynching to anything other than the discrimination to African Americans in the South. Finding out the Italian American population was also subject to this kind of treatment is shocking. I am truly offended that these historical events are not as widespread as other racial discriminatory acts. Although that may sound unimportant, awareness is key to prevention and the Italian Americans had no one fighting for them.
ReplyDeleteWhen looking into the new Orleans lynching I found it crazy and shocking to see that had happened to Italian American. The crazy part how the mob just took 2 other random Italian and lynched them for them being Italian.
ReplyDeleteAt first I didn't want to read rope and soap because I found the picture disturbing. But when reading it I can say that I was part of the people that thought lynching was only to African American and not aware this happened to Italian as well. I never thought that by lynching someone showed dominance. I may have not noticed until now when doing this research. Lynching can be still be happening just behind closed doors. If we still have racism in our society why not this. This has given me a different view on history.
When I read both articles I was startled by the events that have occurred. I had no knowledge of this part of U.S. history because it did take place in the U.S. In school we were taught about slavery and lynching it was associated with African American groups. Italians who know the history that took place in the U.S. feel that some history importance is given to other groups. I realize that today some "groups" are still not welcomed in this country.
ReplyDeleteI never really read so much about lynching before in regards to Salvetti's work. It was surprising and sad to find out how many ethnic groups were affected by this horrific method of violence. I am not really sure if lynching is going on today in the U.S. but it probably is in other countries unfortunately.
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ReplyDeleteI didn't know that the lynch mob felt such conviction in their ideologies that they weren't killing for violence itself but for personal retribution. It made me stop and think, that people can be really perverse and delusional. From Salvetti's writing I can draw a connection to what's going on in the middle east today.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the articles I wasn't aware about the brutal actions that was made against the Italians. Also I didn't expect that they charged Italians for a murder case without proof. I think that racist actions still exist in the US not specifically for Italians but for other for example Michael Brown and not also as much as before.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read about lynching all I was able to think about was the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear lynching I think of the word mob. Not the Italian Mob, but a mob, as in a large group of people. I just associate lynchings with large groups of people. Its just the way I think when I hear the word lynch. After reading, I am not suprised at what I read, I already sort of had a familiarity with the Lynchings of the Italians and the Sacco example from Chicago so I wasnt overly shocked at the treatment, or really had any type of overreaction at all to any of what I read. I dont think that anything like this goes on anymore. Maybe if you do something wrong or you turn people the wrong way, yeah you may have a real good shot of getting your you know what kicked. But not by a thousand people, one on one man vs man, like it should be. I dont think people who really have issues with someone because of their actions or race or whatever generally get 14 or 15 of their buddies and beat up on 2 or 3 people. Nowadays at least in my opinion its more one vs one. If youve got a problem with me or Ive got a problem with you its just settled one vs one squared up.
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