African Americans and Italian Americans in Suburban and Urban New Jersey, 1900-1960s

This is a study of relations between African Americans and Italian Americans in the suburb of Montclair and the city of Newark, both in Essex County, New Jersey from the early 1900s into the 1960s. A comparison of the interactions between these two groups, which have historically had large populations in New Jersey, in both an urban and a suburban setting will constitute a unique case study. There is no full-length study in English of these two groups despite their historical proximity to each other in both urban and suburban settings. Existing studies focus on conflict whereas this project also reveals fraternization. The project will not only complicate our understanding of the relationship between Italian Americans and African Americans; it will also offer insights into how historical context informs the relationship between ethnic and racial groups.