Huge family reunions are noteworthy...
Illustration
Huge family reunions are noteworthy these days. One newspaper reported the gathering of some 2,000 people to celebrate their heritage from the union of a freed African-American slave girl and a Native American. One descendant commented that family reunions were becoming more and more important to African-
Americans as they seek to establish their well-being and self-
respect in uncovering the importance of their ancestry. Gay Talese did the same for descendants of Italian immigrants with his family story, Unto the Sons. That account relates the plight of impoverished Italians who left southern Italy at the turn of the century. Many of them had hoped to make their fortunes in America and return to Italy where they had left their families. It did not work that way for many of them. Yet the bonds with Italy remained strong, and that proved to be difficult at the time of both world wars. Talese could feel the tension in his own home where his father lived with divided loyalty for his adopted home of America and his dear relatives in Italy. Talese observed that the lesson learned from history by Italian families is that today's enemies will be tomorrow's friends. Furthermore, conflicts fought on behalf of kings, dictators and politicians may hold little worth dying for. The Genesis account of the tension in the house of Jacob was resolved for the moment, but was also the beginning of a long story of how the lessons of family and history are easily forgotten. -- Huxhold
Americans as they seek to establish their well-being and self-
respect in uncovering the importance of their ancestry. Gay Talese did the same for descendants of Italian immigrants with his family story, Unto the Sons. That account relates the plight of impoverished Italians who left southern Italy at the turn of the century. Many of them had hoped to make their fortunes in America and return to Italy where they had left their families. It did not work that way for many of them. Yet the bonds with Italy remained strong, and that proved to be difficult at the time of both world wars. Talese could feel the tension in his own home where his father lived with divided loyalty for his adopted home of America and his dear relatives in Italy. Talese observed that the lesson learned from history by Italian families is that today's enemies will be tomorrow's friends. Furthermore, conflicts fought on behalf of kings, dictators and politicians may hold little worth dying for. The Genesis account of the tension in the house of Jacob was resolved for the moment, but was also the beginning of a long story of how the lessons of family and history are easily forgotten. -- Huxhold
