Una Storia Segreta: The Secret History of Italian American Evacuation and Internment during World War II

by Lawrence Distasi

It is a little-known fact that in California during World War II, Italian Americans were subjected to an 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew, searches of their homes, seizure of their property, and exclusion from prohibited zones along the coast. In a collection of essays, Una Storia Segreta brings together the voices of the Italian American community and experts in the field, including personal stories by survivors and their children, letters from internment camps, news clips, photographs, and cartoons. A project of the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

Reviews

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

High school was a while ago for me (2001-2005), but my feeling is that Japanese internment during WWII was only a paragraph in the history book. I didn't even know or consider the internment or mistreatment of Italian immigrants/Italian-Americans, as I'm sure many don't, until I came across this book on my grandfather's book shelf in 2017.

He was a child in WWII but he always talked proudly, fondly of his family, his neighborhood, and his own service in the Army, but he never talked about this, and that seems to be a theme, hence the book's title. He is the son/grandson(?) of Italian immigrants who can trace his family back to Rome and Sicily.

They (media, history, etc.) mention Japanese interment (there's even a musical about it now) and prejudice against German immigrants and those with German names. I think, in America, we forget that Italy was one of the Axis powers, granted Italy surrendered in 1943 and became an ally.

I admit when I put this book on my 2018 reading list I knew there might passages where it rung relevant with US's treatment of immigrants today- family separation, prolonged detainment, fear and anxiety- I didn't think those bells would ring so loudly, so frequently: the loss of civil rights, the suspension of or disregard for Due Process, the separation of families, the deportation/"repatriation" of longtime US residents and interment of ultimately harmless folks and sometimes naturalized US citizens; parents whose sons were in the armed services, some of them dying for a country that labeled their mother or father an "enemy alien".

[Diana H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I reading a novel by Lisa Scottoline I discovered information about the internment of Italian-Americans during WWII. Up to that time (roughly 3 months ago), I had NEVER heard of this situation. How is that even possible?
I used the research information provided by Scottoline to find books on the subject. This is one of those books.
Una Storia Segrata contains many personal accounts of internment. It also explains what was happening behind the scenes that encouraged the continued persecution of Italian-Americans.
Everyone needs to be aware of this part of United States history - a part that has been hidden from most of us.
I believe this is especially important at this time when personal freedoms are again in jeopardy.

[Denise Corbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all know about Japanese-American internment camps during WWII, but this abomination took place concurrently and in secret destroying the lives of many Americans. Not until President Clinton did these victims receive an apology.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living in California, I have learned quite a bit about the Japanese interment. Never in any of my classes, earning a BS in social science, was I told the Italians and Germans were interned and/or restricted.

I would have preferred a book that detailed what took place instead of a collection of essays and reports. There was frequent duplication of events. However, this is the only book my library system has in regards to the Italian internment and reading individual stories did bring a personal touch to the situation.

[Nick Crisanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very insightful, but repetitive. Only a couple of the stories were really interesting and set themselves apart from the rest. That does not, however, diminish the realities of what these people of Italian descent had to endure. Very tragic, indeed. I feel angry as an Italian and ashamed as an American that these events actually took place. These stories should be told, and need to be told.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I pick up this book after reading the Train to Crystal City to learn more about the internment of Italian Americans. Since many of the stories repeat some of the same points about the internment of the Italian Americans, I skimmed through some of the stories rather than reading all of the sections completely. I did check out the online version of the Una Storia Segreta project.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, with a few strong essays and compelling personal stories. Because of the nature of the work, repetitive information, and many of the testimonials are not professionally written or precisely described. Still a good discussion of a lost history.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish this one all the way because it was taking too long and I kinda lost interest. I learned some things that I didn't know before though, which makes me feel good.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A part of our Italian history in the u.s. that is not talked about. Glad I read this book heard stories from my father.

[K E · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting

[John F Papandrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very disappointing. Interesting topic, but unfortunately was hard to hard. Was more historical narrative than social history. Would've enjoyed more first-hand accounts.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for my research. Thorough and just a wealth of knowledge

[Shannon Judisky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good overview of history I'd missed

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for all Italian-Americans and WWII history buffs. A+

[Vincent Lombardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology is a very important work which shines a bright light on a shameful chapter of American history which few people know about. It is a great reference book, but NOT a good book to read through, because many of the pieces overlap and repeat one another.

In addition, the essays written by academics read like they were written by academics, and the first person accounts all share similar experiences. I tried to read the book straight through and it was a slog!

There is a pessimistic tone throughout the book which I found disturbing, best exemplified by the final essay by the editor, Lawrence DiStasi. DiStasi thinks that declaring 600,000 Italians as enemy aliens permanently damaged the Italian American community in many ways. As a second generation Sicilian American, I vehemently disagree! We Italian Americans were harmed, but we survived and thrived! Let's not act like victims, even if proclaiming victimhood is now the trend in this country!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of mine, of Italian descent, told me about this book. Initially I did not believe her but I got the book. Wow, opened my ideas to what was happening in the United States in the 1940's, not all victory gardens, war bonds and Rosy the Riveters. The persecution of Italian Americans (and German Americans) was considerable. These personal accounts, and stories of internment, is quite eye-opening. Now I know why my German American relatives would not speak of that time.

Thank you to the author for informing us about a hidden piece of U. S. history.

Highly Recommended.

[Tara M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an academic book that includes essays related to Italian American interment during WWII.