Bücher der Reihe Robert Viscusi Essay Series

"As one travels through this concise, engaging cultural autobiography, as I would call it, of Marra's many experiences, one realizes that he was much more than an observer. If by "observe," we mean to notice and thus perceive something, understand it as being significant, and then act on it, we see that Marra was indeed a keen onlooker. At times, a fly on the wall, other times, an active participant. His work for NIAF and OSIA, especially, are testimony to these two roles he has and continues to play over the thirty-plus years among Italians and Italian Americans."-from the Foreword by Anthony Julian Tamburri

There exists still ... the notion that [Italian Americans] continue to be one of the very few ethnic groups as targets of microaggressions if not outright discrimination with no consequences to those who engage in such acts.... It is both an internal and external challenge; and in both cases I am convinced that education is the best way we can (1) better inform ourselves of our own history in the United States, and (2) enlighten the non-Italian American about our history and the many challenges immigrants faced. That said, Italian Americans must step up to the plate and support grand projects such as a worthy Italian/American museum at the national level, endowed professorships, and centers, as well as other entities and/or institutions dedicated to imparting knowledge of our history and culture, and, in the end, a veritable Italian/American "think tank." This ultimately brings us to the dire need for private, cultural philanthropy.-from the "Introduction"