Every immigrant group has been forced to deal with discrimination. Unlike other immigrant groups, however, Italian Americans kept silent when newspapers were unfair and harshly critical. After all, their “Old Country” experience with politicians and police were never good. Civic officials were rarely trustworthy. So, they maintained a steady code of silence. In fact, Italians tended to distrust all social, political, and cultural contacts in America. Instead, most stayed to themselves within small social circles.

One New Orleans night in 1896 illustrates the fever pitch of discrimination against Italians and people from Sicily. Sicilians were recruited to work around the clock on plantations to replace freed black slaves following the Emancipation.