Introduction

Are you proud of your country or ashamed to reveal your true identity? This was a question that early Italian American immigrants had to wrestle with every day of their lives, particularly during the turbulent period of Mussolini's regime. The answer to this question varied greatly among Italians that migrated to America depending on which part of Italy they were from - whether they hailed from the industrialized North or the agricultural South. To truly understand the struggle for identity among Italian Americans during Mussolini's regime, we have to start from the beginning of Italian American History, when millions of Italians crossed the Atlantic in search of better opportunities, only to face discrimination and social barriers in their new home. These struggles and hardships faced by early Italian Americans persisted until post-WWII, creating a complex relationship with their homeland and adopted country. The rise of Mussolini in Italy further complicated this dynamic, as Italian Americans found themselves caught between pride in Italy's resurgence and the growing tension between their native and adopted homelands. This exibit will examine how Mussolini's rise to power and reign affected Italian Americans' sense of identity, community relationships, and their place in American society, ultimately shaping how future generations would view their cultural heritage.