Once a marginalized, and only marginally tolerated minority, Italian Americans are now among the most highly accepted groups. Statistical data is one thing, it is another to realize that although this group has not only integrated into society, it remains integral to it and has managed to do so while proudly maintaining its Italian American identity.

By the time of the 1980 census, 12.1 million individuals claimed Italian ancestry, equal to 5.4 percent of national population. Italian American's traditional anchors of family and work ethic remained strong throughout 1970s and 80s. Stereotypes associated with criminal behavior haunted Italian Americans and this increased during the 1970s, due to the popularity of Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather."

Read more

Source: http://www.italiantribune.com/