Comparing Italian American immigrant families to black American families: A sociological analysis of the family in America

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

8 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

04/29/2009

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

Social sciences

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Summary :

Introduction
History of the African Americans
The African-American and the Italian-American communities
The study carried out by Harry, Klinger and Hart
The article by Letiecq
Study by Cain and Combs-Orme
Italian-American cultural studies
The emphasis on spoken language
The idea that one should remain silent about the family
Conclusion
Bibliography

Abstract

This paper will offer a comparison between African american families and italian american immigrant families, by exploring family cohesion and identity. What are the ways that the black american family is written about in sociological literature, and how does this differ from the perspective or orientation which shapes discussion of the italian-american family. How do gender roles impact family structure, and how do families who face discrimination cope, in varied ways, with hostilities external to the family or larger cultural group?Historically, African Americans first came to the U.S. primarily as slaves. Following the cessation of slavery at the end of the Civil War, black-Americans endured and survived through a century of segregation before beginning the concerted, organized fight for full equality characterized in the late 1950s-1960s Civil Rights movement. This equality still remains elusive, depending on factors such as class position. italian Americans came to North america from the 19th century onward, as skilled and unskilled migrant labourers; often the men came first and sent remittance monies home. Later, the husbands or fathers might have helped bring other members of their families or members of their local communities to america. Italians Americans are part of a larger italian world Diaspora, as black people in america may also consider themselves as living in the Diaspora, with Africa a homeland, distant in time and to large degree in the contemporary cultural imaginary (Pozzetta and Ramirez, 1992; McWhorter, 2006)