Italian Floridians in South Florida: An Oral History Collection in the New New Land

Year 2023, Issue: 60, 139 - 167, 31.12.2023

Vincenza Ivıncenza

Abstract

This article discusses a new concept, new new land, and the
role of material culture as an identity marker. The research is based on
ethnographic data (Italian American Oral History Collection). The new
new land is a space in which Italians who relocated to South Florida
experienced a different migration from the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries. Methodologically, excerpts from interviews are
used to document the Italian Floridian experience in South Florida
and pursue answers to such questions: Why did Italian Americans
choose the Sunshine State as their new home? What meaning do Italian
Americans give to this new new land? What happens to Italianita when
one moves to a different area? In the new new land, Italian Floridians
experience a symbolic idea of Italianita in their ongoing journey for
which more research will reveal hitherto undocumented aspects of this
vibrant group.

Keywords

Italianita, Italian American Oral History Collection, Italian Floridians, New New Land, place