L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 4 T he year 2024 is poised to be the y e a r o f R o o t s T o u r i s m , a n emotive journey "back to one's roots" for Ital- i a n m i g r a n t s a n d t h e i r descendants. This trip takes them back to the places they, or their intrepid ancestors— parents, grandparents, and g r e a t - g r a n d p a r e n t s — l e f t b e h i n d f o r a n e w l i f e i n America, embarking on this monumental journey with- out knowing a single word of English. These trips serve as a bridge to the past, bringing to life the tales, traditions, and the very towns where t h e i r f o r e b e a r s d w e l l e d , while also connecting with distant relatives who bear their family name. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anto- nio Tajani highlighted the significance of this theme f o r t h e g o v e r n m e n t , announcing a strategic focus on a market with an esti- m a t e d 8 0 m i l l i o n p e o p l e w o r l d w i d e w i t h I t a l i a n roots. The key target coun- t r i e s f o r t h i s i n i t i a t i v e , reflecting the historical pat- terns of Italian emigration, include Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay, Colom- b i a , P a r a g u a y , C h i l e , t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , C a n a d a , S o u t h A f r i c a , G e r m a n y , Switzerland, France, Bel- gium, and the United King- d o m . S p e c i f i c a l l y i n the United States, the lat- est census records a sub- stantial Italian-origin popu- l a t i o n o f 1 7 . 3 m i l l i o n , ranking as the fourth-largest European ethnic group, fol- lowing Germans, Irish, and English. However, leading Italian-American organiza- tions, the National Italian American Foundation ( N I A F ) a n d t h e O r d e r Sons and Daughters of I t a l y i n A m e r i c a ( O S D I A ) , e s t i m a t e t h i s number to be upwards of 25 million. The Registry of Ital- i a n s R e s i d e n t A b r o a d (AIRE) lists 313,450 Ital- ians in the United States as o f D e c e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 . These individuals are spread across ten consular districts, w i t h 2 1 , 1 9 3 i n B o s t o n , 26,801 in Chicago, 18,787 in Detroit, 25,973 in Philadel- p h i a , 1 2 , 9 1 6 i n H o u s t o n , 3 0 , 1 9 7 i n L o s A n g e l e s , 47,785 in Miami, 95,305 in N e w Y o r k , 2 6 , 3 3 5 i n S a n F r a n c i s c o , a n d 8 , 1 5 8 i n Washington D.C. Notably, California alone accounts f o r 5 6 , 5 3 2 r e g i s t r a n t s , approximately one-fifth of the total. Besides "first-generation" Italians, who arrived in the U n i t e d S t a t e s d u r i n g t h e varied migration waves of the last century up to the early 1960s, recent immi- gration has predominantly consisted of highly educated compatriots, many with uni- versity or advanced degrees. This group includes young Italian entrepreneurs who invest in the United States while maintaining their pri- mary interests in Italy, as well as university profes- s o r s , s c i e n t i s t s , a n d researchers, particularly in the fields of computing and high-tech, who have trans- lated their discoveries and inventions into significant industrial contributions. "Roots Tourism," Deputy Prime Minister Tajani elab- orates, "is a strategic boon for all national territories that are yet untouched by m a s s t o u r i s m , " b u t m o r e t h a n t h a t , i t ' s " a g o l d e n opportunity to fortify our connections with our com- munities overseas and to shed light on the small ham- lets and rural communities that stand at the origin of their migration story. These are the guardians of the val- ues, culture, and traditions our compatriots have dis- seminated worldwide." It's essential to acknowl edge t h a t I t a l i a n s i n A m e r i c a have carved out their place in every facet of the coun- try's life— politics, economy, a r t s , c i n e m a , s c i e n c e , research, and sports. Their contributions have not only elevated Italy's stature in the United States but have Italy embraces Roots Tourism in 2024 BARBARA MINAFRA NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Tourists admire the Roman Forum. This year many visitors coming to Italy may be traveling to find their roots (Photo: Martinmark/Dreamstime) CONTINUED TO PAGE 6

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