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Thursday, March 23, 2023
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Divisions
Within the Community |
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The Windsor Italians
are not a homogeneous unit. They are as different as their regions
of origin. There is no greater division
than that of the North/South. One unfortunate example of this occurred
in 1920 when a local chapter of the Dante Alighieri Society was
formed. Their aim was a noble one: to disseminate Italian culture,
language, literature and national sport and to foster a spirit
of citizenship and loyalty to the adopted country of the Italians
abroad. However, the North/South split was revealed in an article
in the December 18th, 1920 issue of the Border Cities Star. This
article, which made negative comments about Italians in general
and Southern Italians in particular, praised the membership of
the local Dante Alighieri Society: “The personnel of the
local society, is of very high grade, being mostly recruited from
the Northern provinces and the Tyrol, Tuscans, Lombards and Venetians,
all of an entirely different type from the turbulent inhabitants
of the Southern Italian Peninsula”.
It should be noted that in 1970 a new branch of the Dante Alighieri
Society was founded, this time with the full and equal participation
of all Italians (and non-Italians too). |
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The “hot bed” for
Fascist Activity? |
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In January, 1936,
George Tiberi, the Italian vice-consul from Toronto came to Windsor.
300 Italians gathered to listen to his
speech on the justification of Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia
and to appeal to them for contributions to his campaign. Many women
offered their gold wedding rings to help “Il Duce”.
A few protestors, mostly members of the Italian Cultural Club of
Windsor, were dismissed as communist sympathizers.
Windsor developed a reputation as a “hot bed” of fascist
activity. (Fascism is a political philosophy or regime that exalts
nation and race and stands for centralized autocratic government,
severe economic and social regimentation and forcible suppression
of opposition).
However, during the 1930s, there existed in Canada (precisely in
Blairmore, Edmonton, Montreal, Niagara Falls, Port Arthur, Toronto,
Vancouver
and Windsor) several non-fascist workers’ clubs, united
in the Alleanza Operaia Italo-Canadese (Italo–Canadian Workers
Alliance). |
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The Text Book Controversy |
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In May 1938, the Separate
School Board and the Italian community came under fire as fascist
propaganda was found within children’s
Italian readers that were used in Saturday Italian classes. The
local newspaper reported the five day inquiry which followed. The
scandal rapidly involved not only the Italian community and the
Separate School Board, but the City Council, the Italian vice-consulate,
the Department of Education in Toronto and Canadian Immigration
in Ottawa. The school was found to be a part of an international
fascist program of indoctrination under the direct supervision
of the Italian Foreign Office. It must be recalled that this period
of history was marked by the fear of communism and many (and not
only some Italians) regarded fascism as a useful tool in the fight
against communism. The end result was that the entire Italian community
suffered. Italian anti-fascists in the community refused to be
identified, fearing reprisals against themselves and their relatives
in Italy.
The 1938 controversy was not forgotten and led in due time to indiscriminate
hostility against all Italians.
The period between two wars, in spite of the controversy, stands
out as a time of dynamic change for the Windsor Italian community.
(Julius A.Molinaro and Maddalena Kuitunen, The Luminous Mosaic,
Toronto, 1993) |
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Italians
in Windsor – Their
Experience in World War II |
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When Mussolini declared
war on Britain, June 10, 1940, an explosion of anti-Italian feeling
erupted throughout Canada. Over 150 policemen
and citizens participated in the rounding up of the enemy aliens
in Windsor. They became prisoners of war and were held without
evidence. Many Italians were fingerprinted and registered as “dangerous
Italian elements”. They were interned for further questioning.
This had a devastating effect on the men and their families. To
this day many of the affected families do not wish to speak about
their experience. Italians in the Windsor area were fired from
all city work as well as from many industries.
As a result, they
lost their primary income and often their homes. Many were reduced
to desperate situations. Families of an unemployed enemy alien,
who was not interned, were not eligible for government assistance.
No strangers to hard times, the community weathered the storm.
Their positive response included participation in the Canadian
war effort, by offering volunteers and financial aid. For example,
the Italian Mutual Benefit Society donated $1200 to the Red Cross
in March 1942. |
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The
opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada. |
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– Their
Experience in World War II