Number of Italian surnames among black New Orleanians is suprising (New Orleans: how much, high schools)

[Aceter]

When you at alumni class lists of high schools which were all black since they opened like St. Aug, Xavier Prep, St Marys, McDonogh 35, Booker T, Landry, Cohen, and Clark and those which became all black like Fortier, John Mac, Nicholls, Kennedy,and Walker, you'll come across maybe 70 different Italian surnames. Ammirato, Arso, Barabino, Bruno, Cagnolatti, Cuneo, Danna, Domio, Fascio, Fortuna, Garibaldi, Gilardoni, Manetta, Martello, Nocentelli, Palma, Rava, Scorza, Spadoni,Tolentino, and Torregano are just a few of surnames of black New Orleanians which were Italian. When considering all the different French and Spanish surnames of black New Orleanians, the French, Italian,and Spanish genealogical admixtures are likely greater among black New Orleans than among any other city's black residents

[The0racle]

Not surprising at all actually. Historically speaking, the Italians were disliked and persecuted as a minority almost as badly as the blacks were in Nawlins way back when, and so the two groups had a certain commonality and subsequent bond. Not surprising they inter-married.

[Jimbo_1]

I've noticed this a little but it never seemed that common. I wonder how much of it dates back to the pre-civil war and slavery era versus the larger wave of Italian immigrants that came during the 1890s-1920. New Orleans had a decent sized Italian community in the Antebellum era (small compared to decades later but largest in the country during the time), plus some French and Spanish citizens with Italian based names (or Italian-like names). If they owned slaves it likely would have created today's lineage of black people with Italian names. Even with the stigma that newly arrived Italian immigrants faced around the 1900s, it seems unlikely they would have "intermarried" with black New Orleanians, knowing the ways of that era, except maybe for some light skinned Creoles.

But it is an interesting phenomenon, which combined with the city's heavy French and Spanish heritage is a unique history, plus the accompanying large Black Catholic population due to the same history.

For example P.G.T. Beauregard's mother's last name was Reggio, whose family came to Louisiana in the 1700s from Northern Italy near France (there was a lot of interaction between the French and Italians in such a location). I wouldn't be surprised if there are some black Reggio's out there today. That is in comparison to the bulk of Italian Americans who came in the early 1900s, mainly from Sicily.

[BougNeg1]

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Italian-Americans in New Orleans were heavily segregated and, in some cases, subject to "One Drop Rule" laws.

[skylineorgoldstar]

From my own family's and family friend's knowledge, many of the names came about post-civil war. The first wave of Italian men were heavily rejected by most white New Orleanians. The same is true among the few South Asian immigrants and the first wave of Chinese men.

[Aceter]

I read the other day that the Mardi Gras Indians' tradition of masking around Sicilian St. Joseph's Day, has everything to do with, according to late Big Chief " Tootie " Montana, the tight relationship that African and Italian Americans had shared in New Orleans back when. Now it's beginning to make sense.

[ckhthankgod]

All of this makes sense and even in Northeastern cities where there is a good amount of both groups, you may have Black people or people of obvious African descent with Italian surnames. Here's an example of a football player from Troy NY: Jordan Canzeri - Iowa Hawkeyes - 2017 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com


So, it is a mix/relationship that is more common than people may realize.