America is a melting pot of people — and today — more than one million Italian Americans can trace their history back to colonization in Arkansas. That’s according to historians with the Italians of Sunnyside. On this Independence Day, many are happy to call the natural state home — but they haven’t always felt so free.

Anthony Borgognoni — raised in Catholic school — is a dual citizen dedicated to preserving his heritage. He’s proud to be an Italian American. “We take being Americans very seriously, but it was a hard price to pay,” Borgognoni said. “All of my family is just embedded in this history. All of my classmates had a name that ended in I.”