Well, you have to understand: Italy did not immigrate to the US entire. Italians in America are of very specific regional origins. It is not so much a personal view of Italian-Americans, or of Italians.. but of recognizing how Italian immigrants and Italian-Americans are treated and viewed by themselves, by other American groups. If there is an issue, it is probably that most Italian-Americans would not be considered mainstream Italians. I'd dare to say it works with about every immigrant group in America: we are in ways the heirs of minorities in the Old Country. Understanding us Anglo-Americans works the same way. Dont expect us to think like Londoners. The greatest influx of us came from the Borders as they were being pacified. How much does a modern Londoner have in common with border-folk from the days of King James I, or even from the late 18th c. ? Other whole sections of our Anglo-population came from specific places that have changed over time (New England is almost entirely rural East Anglian roots, Tidewater South mostly Wessex roots, etc.) German immigration to the US is similar: far less Saxon, far more Bavarian, Palatine... and in the northern states, Prussian. There have been various studies done on American sociology and minorities, even treating Italian-Americans (amongst others). Of those who have 'gone mainstream', ie Germans, most Irish, French ... there is no such studies. Studies only exist for those who have not assimilated. (Note, one Anglo group is considered as a minority and is treated as such in sociological studies; Appalachian mountaineers... mostly for their extremely antiquated conservatism.) I have lived in several states, and have spent time in Italian-American communities. I even have an Italian American friend with whom I spend plenty of time. He even admits to not being treated as a 'mainstream' American south or west of Philadelphia... unless it is in an Urban area like Chicago, Detroit, or LA.
Sorry, missed your main question. How Germans are viewed in the US? As above, most of them by far have assimilated into Anglo society and have little to distinguish them beyond food customs from other Americans. In fact, most of us Anglos have absorbed parts of German heritage related to butchering and the meat industry (the Hamburger and Frankfurter are of German origin, as is 'Chicken Fried Steak', ie schnitzel.) For the way that Germans who have not assimilated are viewed in American popular eyes, I can come up with a number of issues highly influenced by the World Wars, besides Immigration, and more recent interactions:
1 Highly intelligent, inventive.
2 Severe and cruel.
3 Poor artisans, great musicians.
4 Lack of humor.
5 Sexually perverted/kinky.
6 Highly disciplined, lacking in spontaneity.
7 Quaint, stuck in the past.
I dont think that Germans themselves are like that stereotype, but it is generally how unassimilated German-Americans are viewed. In any case, an American Oktoberfest is more likely to be attended by mainstream Americans than an Italian festival (whatever they would call that.) Even in my largely Anglo-Celtic area, Oktoberfest is a much larger community event even for non-Germans than is our own Highland Games or St. Patrick's day parade and festival (even beats out the Renaissance and Medieval festivals.) I think we Americans have a love-hate relationship with Germany that would be difficult to explain to a non-American, or an unassimilated Ghetto American.
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