When America feared Italians

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So, there's a wave of people coming from the Mediterranean, and the perception is that these people have an alien religion, an alien culture, and an inclination to violence. In response, there's a wave of hostility from large chunks of American society, stoked by sensational stories in the media and alarms from politicians. In fact, the migrants are seen as so different that many say they can never become true Americans. So, who are we talking about? Italians, of course. Image: A late 19th century photo of the Mulberry Bend area in New York's Little Italy. Credit: Getty Images