Grass Roots

Grass Roots - Lodges

The grass roots efforts of OSIA members through its Lodge system provide a continuing vigilance of discriminating practices which are dealt with in the lodge communities to the extent possible, if not with assistance from our National Office and CSJ officers.

To review one instance in California

In 1989 one of our members noticed a car license plate with names such as Mafia 1, 2 etc. Wop and Dago 1, 2 etc. and other derogatory terms. A complaint was registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles which resulted in hearings being held throughout the state to determine if (individuals) were offended prior to the department taking action.

I was the state president at the time and was able to obtain witnesses in every locale designated by the State where hearings were scheduled who would appear before the hearing officers. These were generally members of local lodges thus the task was not too difficult. As a result of the hearings the Department of Motor Vehicles ruled that the plates must be recalled and no further plates which stereotyped ones ethnicity could be issued.

I was saddened to learn that most of the holders of the plates were Italian Americans including many professional individuals who considered being called a “Dago” or “Wop” acceptable.

As a result of this experience in California other states have since adopted similar policies and taken action.

Many cases are not state wide or national in scope. They may be individual or related to employment or the use of “Wop”, “Dago” in advertising, restaurants, literature, newscasts, etc. These cases have not been eliminated but have decreased considerably and I can truthfully state that I personally have experienced much less of this type of name calling than in years gone by.

- Conclusion -

As we look back and celebrate the rich legacy of OSIA’s first 100 years the record speaks for itself; more than 90 million given to educational, philanthropic, and cultural projects: which include unparalleled advocacy for social justice for all people and against ethnic stereotyping; singular leadership in the campaign to preserve the Italian language and culture.

The odyssey of our journey will continue and may bear witness to its success in our children and their children as we preserve our precious heritage.

Many of our children no longer know what past discrimination was like and now enjoy more equal opportunities in this country.

-The End-

This site was last updated 07/01/07