Natalie LoRusso
“Upon arriving at Ellis Island, however, he was surprised to see that the ledger said “BROWN” next to his race. He would not have referred to himself in such terms, though his skin was naturally olive-toned. It was not until he and his family were established in Upstate New York that he realized what this demarcation meant. He encountered racism and harassment throughout his life.
Let’s fast-forward to my childhood in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. My family frequented local Italian staples such as Angotti’s, Lombardi’s, and Casa del Pan. Summers were spent in Alexandria Bay with Frank and Caroline LoRusso, my grandparents who spoke with spicy whispers of an Italian-American accent and never understood the meaning of “a little more, please” when handed a dinner plate. They were fierce with their beliefs, generous with their cooking, and bone-crushing with their hugs. While I miss their physical presence in my life, I know I carry these same traits within myself.
To me, being an Italian American has no tangible connection to Christopher Columbus. I admire my great-grandparents’ fortitude and grit with leaving their home to begin anew, but I detest the circumstances in which this land was acquired. Columbus does not represent my heritage, as he perpetuated and stood for beliefs that my family [1] starkly opposed. Racism, genocide, and white supremacy have no place in America, and they have no place in the City of Syracuse.
I ask for the removal of a statue that holds false meaning for my ancestors or myself, and actively harms Native Americans with every passing day. This symbol of hate and otherness has no place in our sanctuary.”