Dear NY Times Editor, The 2,180 word opinion by Brent Staples titled “How Italians became ‘White’“ is 30% truth, 30% false, and leaves out 40% of the pertinent facts.  In his closing paragraphs Mr. Staples writes: “… the full-blown Columbus myth was yet to come.” The second to last paragraph opens with “Facts aside.” His closing words are “highly politicized myth making.”  

Several readers have asked us to comment on the article.  Staples opens with his theory of Italian immigrants seeking to become “white.” That is incorrect, Italians sought to become “Americans.”