My sister began this journey around three years ago.
For a small additional fee, she and my mother invited me to join them in this ambitious undertaking. I must admit that I was skeptical due to all the paperwork and red tape. I will also state that they did most of the work. Yet the notion of it becoming a possibility compelled me to take that leap of faith and join them in their quest.
I've never visited this location. I have never experienced its culture firsthand aside from my grandfather who came over as a child. My knowledge is limited to book descriptions, magazine photographs, backdrops in films, and the stories my sister would share with me. And I clearly need to dust off my
Duolingo account and perhaps invest in some more sophisticated language learning apps if I am going to have any hope of navigating this new chapter of my life with even basic conversational skills.
But now I find myself grateful
for the very systems of oppression, with its narrow definitions of citizenship and humanity, that failed to recognize my great grandmother as worthy of United States citizenship. It became the key that unlocked this opportunity for connection to the
my heritage and culture of one of my origins.
I have wonderful news!
We have today received the Court's order that recognizes you as Italian citizen.
Please let me be the first to say benvenuta cittadinanza italiana.
Welcome to Italian citizenship. Congratulations!
I must acknowledge that there are still
administrative hurdles ahead. There is a 2 month period where someone can contest the ruling. Then another six months for the government to certify, charge a fee and register us as citizens. But I am going to celebrate, nonetheless!