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Forgotten Voices: Italian Americans Uprooted in Wartime California
Dive into a lesser-known chapter of American history: the experiences of Bay Area Italian Americans during World War II. Based on the real events that inspired her historical novel Beneath the Sicilian Stars, Lindsay Marie Morris brings to life the stories of people labeled "enemy aliens," forced to evacuate their homes, and in some cases, imprisoned in internment camps.
Through historical context and personal storytelling, Morris examines the impact of Executive Order 9066 on Italian American communities—especially in Pittsburg, California, where 22% of the population was displaced. Audiences will learn about surveillance, civil rights violations and the long-buried trauma passed through generations.
Highlights include:
The little-known internment of Italian Americans alongside Japanese American and German American communities
The devastation of family-run industries like fishing in California
Stories of resilience, cultural erasure and rediscovery
Legislation and resolutions acknowledging past injustices
Ideal for anyone interested in California history, World War II history, Italian heritage, civil rights, or immigrant stories.
About the presenter: Lindsay Marie Morris is a Los Angeles–based novelist and journalist inspired by her Sicilian-American roots. Her debut, The Last Letter from Sicily (Storm Publishing, January 2025), and her follow-up, Beneath the Sicilian Stars (July 2025), bring to life overlooked stories of resilience, identity and family during World War II.
Space limited. Reservations required: (415) 355-5626, email [email protected] or sign-up at the reference desk.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3307606-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3307606-2
