What Italians Think about Americans... Italian Heritage

SS Italia carried my father in the winter of 1917 but was torpedoed and sunk by May of the same year 46 miles off the heel of Italy. It was one of the coldest winters in history, temps were in the low teens when they arrived.

"Many of us Italians are perplexed by the American tendency to claim Italian heritage, often having to trace back many generations to do so. We are Italians. We never left. You are Italian-Americans at best. It's not the same thing." 

My grandfather, Sergio Finzi & family on the SS Italia's manifest, sailing from Naples, arriving New York on January 18, 1917. My Dad is Saverio. They arrived with only $40 and hope...