More Things I did NOT know...

Before I read this book, the only thing I (thought I) knew about the 1920's was that Prohibition happened...and Charles Lindberg flew over the Atlantic Ocean.

Of course, he dealt with those two things - but there was SO MUCH MORE going on...

For example -- 1927 was the first "talking" movie. This was a technology that changed everything. And because Hollywood was the home of the movie industry, the movies glorified the American Dream -- the whole world became enamored of all-things-American. It was an overnight sea change in the way the world absorbed information. TALKING PICTURES...

But, alas, by 1927, the dreams of many immigrants had already turned sour here in America.

Hey -- WE THINK WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS TODAY?? Try being an Italian immigrant, living in a crowded tenement in New York City -- no work, very little food, no indoor plumbing, and no potable water.  Conditions were deplorable -- and the Italians suffered more than most.

Because of the enormously popular "Eugenics" movement (later shown to be based NOT on science, but fictitious studies created by one man to advance his own agenda)...the general population of America believed the darker a person's complexion, the less desirable they were to society. In the south -- Italian immigrants were not even allowed to eat in the white people section.  They were routinely paid less money, denied decent housing, and discriminated against in every way possible. 

My husband's family immigrated from Italy -- and by the time I took up residence with them, the oft told family myth was that they came through Ellis Island and assimilated.   Italians learned to speak English, went to school, got jobs and became part of American society....

NOT SO FAST, PEOPLE...there was an entire Italian Anarchist movement. They were so unhappy with their life in America, and the horrible way they were treated -- they started setting off bombs. After a series of mail bombings, in 1919, they managed to detonate eight large bombs nearly simultaneously in eight U.S. cities.

In 1920, a huge bomb went off on Wall Street -- killing 38 people.

The summer of 1927, Sacco and Vanzetti died in the electric chair.  They were two Italian Anarchists who convicted of murder...and well -- you need to read the book.

The best thing about Bill Bryson is that he always makes me think. In today's toxic political climate, with all the hateful rhetoric about immigrants, it's good to stand back for a minute and consider WHERE WE ALL CAME FROM.

And maybe the truth is -- it's never been easy to be an immigrant in America...