home >> Image & Identity >> Picks & Pans >> Winter 2001
THUMBS UP...
To the History Channel for
its excellent documentary, Italian American Internment: A
Secret Story, which aired February 16. See: To
order a copy of the video for $19.95, call 1-800-708-1776.
Sara Goodyear for
"When Being Italian Was A Crime" [The Village Voice,
April 11], which dramatically tells the story of the internment,
relocation, and detainment of Italian Americans during World War
II.
Larry Bonko, columnist
for The Virginia-Pilot for his article "Hey, Tony.
Cool it:" which noted that most Italian Americans do not
approve of "The Sopranos" and the message it sends
about Italian Americans.
Carlin Romano, "Why
Some Prejudices Still Thrive" [Philadelphia Inquirer,
Feb. 6], which comments that Italian Americans are the last
permissible outlet in American entertainment for cheap ethnic
jokes and "excessive focus on deviant slices of an ethnic
group."
George De Stefano for "Ungood
Fellas" in The Nation Magazine. He notes
ironically that although in the 1990s organized crime members
have been imprisoned, their business interests largely
dismantled, and the crime families dwindling, media images of
the Mafia them are on the increase.
Gregory Kane for his
column, "Hollywood smitten with Mafioso fantasy"
[Baltimore Sun, February 13], which denounces the stereotyping
of Italian Americans as mobsters.
The San Francisco Chronicle
for including on its List of This Century’s Ten Most
Influential People in the Bay Area, Lawrence Di Stasi, as
"the driving force" behind the movement to bring to
public attention the internment and relocation of Italian
Americans in World War II. [December 19, 1999]
Quick Chek Food Stores
for dropping its offensive "Drop A Dime" radio
commercial that depicted Italian Americans as gangsters.
Responding to complaints from the Italian American One Voice
Committee and the NIAF among others, president Bob Page took
immediate action.
THUMBS DOWN...
Richard Cohen for
attempting to excuse tasteless jokes about Italian Americans
made by his friend, Jon Corzine, a candidate for the U.S.
Senate. ["Just Joking," Washington Post, April 4.] The
NIAF sent a letter Mr. Cohen, to the editor, and to Mr. Corzine
citing the damage done by such senseless stereotyping.
Ken Ringle for
"Mamma Mia! America Cup Sails Into Foreign Seas"
[Washington Post, Feb.10], which made false and erroneous
statements about the performance of the Italian Navy during
World War II. The NIAF sent a letter stating the facts to the
editor as well as to the publisher and to the reporter, Mr.
Ringle.
Heartland Music, a
subsidiary of Time-Life Music for advertising the CD "Mob
Hits" in its Spring 2000 Music Catalog. To
complain call : 1-800-757-6733, or write to Steven Janas,
President, Heartland Music, E Parham Road, P.O. Box 85535,
Richmond, VA 23285.
David Chase, who penned
"The Sopranos," and now is writing a movie script
featuring more negative stereotypes of Italian Americans.
"Female Suspects" follows a female criminal
sociologist into a New Jersey family of thieves and petty
criminals where she becomes a participant in several crimes.
CBS Network for its new
series "Falcone," another violent mob story. Badly
written and poorly acted, the series has been canceled.
Master P, a CD producer
that makes rap albums featuring African American rap artists
called Lil’Italy, Ghetto Commission and The Gambino Family,
who "rap" about being Italian gangsters and relate the
Mafia to their ghetto lifestyles.
The New Jersey Chapter of
Cooley’s Anemia Foundation for honoring actor Dominic
Chianese at its 28th annual dinner dance in March.
Mr. Chianese currently co-stars as Uncle, Jr. on "The
Sopranos".
Just Shoot Me, the NBC
sit-com, for an episode in which co-workers assume that Elliott,
an Italian American, has mob links. At first the character is
offended, but investigates and discovers that he is
"hooked-up."
Miramax for purchasing
the rights to Mario Puzo’s final novel "Omerta`,"
about a young man who protects the family interests of a Mafia
Don.
Robert De Niro for
starring as Angelo Dundee in "Out On My Feet," to be
released next year, based on the double life of former boxer
Vinnie Curto who also was in organized crime.
Contributors: Manny Alfano,
Richard Annotico, Raymond Bianco, Carlo De Leonibus, John De
Matteo, Jeanne Di Toro, Frank J. Guida, Vincent Lepore, Nancyann
Rella, and Mike Volpe.
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