Sicilian Culture: The News & Views: Why-Who to Question Positive Stereotypes?

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Why-Who to Question Positive Stereotypes?
This is a Duplicate of a Post submitted to H-ITAM (History-Italian American) LIST.
My following response was to a post by a Mr Tonelli, a tabloid journalist for "Rolling Stone", who frequently ridicules those who object to I-A Negative Stereotyping, and in his most recent case, he mocks a beautiful essay by the highly respected Proffessor Frank J. Cavaioli, a former president of the American Italian Historical Association (AIHA) and is an Editor of The Italian American Experience: An Encyclopedia, 2000. The tabloid journalist's original post follows on at the end.
To: H-ITAM List Members
Mr. Tonelli posted a concern about the paucity of examination of Positive Stereotypes in response to Frank Cavaioli's essay on Italian American Negative Stereotypes.
I submit that it is inappropriate for him to suggest that many of us are being too narrow in OUR examination of Stereotyping.
We are attempting to deal with an OVERWHELMING and DISPROPORTIONATE Negative Depictions that have serious damaging implications in the Italian American Community. We are dealing with DISTORTION of the TRUTH, and the consequent DEGREE of DAMAGE.
We have a Focus on DISTORTED and PERVASIVE NEGATIVE STEREOTYPING of Italian Americans, and the DAMAGE it inflicts. That in itself is a Monumental enough Project, without being expanded.
I appreciate the constructive suggestion for those of us to enlarge our Project, but I for one politely decline. Our current Project is more than sufficiently burdensome, and difficult, particularly with "heckling" naysayers attempting to distract us from the "sidelines".
I would also be interested in any studies by any other Ethnic/ Racial groups that have done any Studies on Positive Stereotyping, particularly regarding it's inaccuracy, degree of its inaccuracy, and the damage to that community, or the Community at large. Perhaps Mr. Tonelli could provide us with those?
I there are none, then perhaps Mr. Tonelli with his inquiring mind, and grave interest would like to explore that Focus, researching and investigating that aspect, which after his comprehensive and extensive examination should garner him great acclaim, and render a great public service, since it would apparently be breaking exciting NEW ground.
Would he be willing to embark on such a project?
Mr. Tonelli encourages us to "decry all stereotypes, regardless of whom or what is being stereotyped". I suggest we already do. We I-As decry Anti Semitic, Anti Black, Anti Hispanic, Anti Asian etc. Stereotypes.
But where is the evidence of the general community "decrying" the damaging negative Anti Italian American Stereotypes? Instead they are "reveling" in it. Historically each group had to fight it's OWN battle, but it is the Italian American Community that is the last to Recognize the "problem", and the best example of an Ethnic/Racial Community that has been the Least Successful of all the those Communities in Combating and Defending itself from the onslaught.
Again, our focus is the DISTORTION of the TRUTH, (by Disproportionate Depictions) and the Irreparable DAMAGE being done to the Italian American Community, and in my estimation a huge, admirable, and necessary undertaking, that obviously is of little interest or concern to the general community, and even too many Italian Americans.
With all due Respect,
Richard Annotico
trimtantre@aol.com

Subj: Question positive stereotypes too?
Date: 12/11/00 9:56:48 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: D-Candeloro@govst.edu (Dominic Candeloro)
Sender: H-ITAM@H-NET.MSU.EDU
(H-NET List on Italian-American History and Culture)
Subject: Re: Stereotyping, by Frank Cavaioli
From: Bill Tonelli
Has anyone yet wondered to what degree the prevailing stereotypes about Italian-Americans are true?
Seems any principled discussion must start with that question. I have yet to see in these postings any outrage or protest over stereotypes of Italians as "artistic" or "family-centered," to name but two "positive" traits commonly associated with Italians.
Will we accept the positive and decry the negative? Will we decry all stereotypes, regardless of whom or what is being stereotyped, in every aspect of our lives (on- and off-line)?
Because it seems to me that stereotypes---positive and negative, harmful and beneficial---exist as they do and take the form that they take for reasons. And that until we have explored and discussed and argued those reasons as openly and candidly and honestly as possible, in the spirit of intellectual goodwill any such discussion must take, that it's hard to know how the negative stereotypes came to exist, let alone what to do about them.
Bill Tonelli
Rolling Stone

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