A Vast Plot Directed Against Our Race?

In A Great Conspiracy against Our Race, Peter Vellon delves into the assimilation of Italian immigrants into dominant white culture. The book examines how Italian immigrants, once considered undesirable and “swarthy”, assimilated into dominant white culture through the influence of national and radical Italian newspapers. Vellon examines the role of the Italian language press in shaping and reflecting ideas about race and ethnicity among Italians in America.

The book explores the journey of Italian Americans, from victims of lynching to perpetrators of racial violence. The journey of Italian Americans uniquely embodies the tremendous costs of an assimilation process that inculcates the racial hierarchy.

Racial history has always been a thorn in America’s side, with injustices such as slavery, lynching, segregation, and other ills perpetrated. Vellon’s book vividly illustrates how the immigrant press was a site where socially constructed categories of race, color, and whiteness were constructed.

In conclusion, A Great Conspiracy against Our Race is a valuable exploration of the assimilation of Italian immigrants into dominant white culture. It highlights the importance of understanding the historical context and the impact of the Italian language press on shaping and reflecting ideas about race and ethnicity among Italian Americans.