There’s No “Them” – It’s All Us

“There’s no such thing as us and them. There’s no them. It’s all us.” This is one of the things that the JEVA (Justice Education, Volunteers, and Advocacy) department tells volunteers during the introduction to our work at St. Anthony’s. One of the most profound things that our volunteers experience is the reality of the common humanity among all people, regardless of income, disability status, or age.  Every time I think about this phrase, I am reminded of a story that I’ve heard many times …

It was around 1910 when his parents decided to come to America. They knew that their future in southern Italy was bleak. All they had ever known was poverty. Neither his mother nor his father could read or write Italian, and neither could speak English. Yet, when they heard of an American textile company that could offer employment, they decided to leave everything they’d ever known to come to the United States. It’s impossible to know whether they realized that they’d never see Italy or their parents again. They probably didn’t allow themselves to think about such things — they realized that the best chance for their family’s survival depended on their ability to make the 2-week long sea voyage from Italy to New York. As the date of their voyage drew closer, they surely, as they had many times during past uncertainty and strife, they prayed to St. Anthony for help, strength, and comfort.

Their second son, James Anthony, was born in New York in 1916. By the time that James was six, he had to help support his family, and he got his first job. Every morning at 5:00, before going to school, he would sell newspapers. Competition among the newspaper boys was fierce, as the boy who could get the most newspapers in the morning would make the most money at the end of the day. At age six, James had to learn how to fight in order to be able to bring money home to his family. All of the money he earned went to his father to help his family pay for food, rent, and clothing.

James’ parents lived in a tiny apartment above a restaurant. By the time James was five, he had seven brothers and sisters. James and his family became homeless sometime in the 1920s. The restaurant underneath their apartment caught on fire, and James’ family lost their home and all their belongings. James and his family moved in with relatives — the two families shared a tiny apartment, and all of the children slept in one bedroom. James completed the 8th grade in 1929, and because he had to devote more time to work in order to help his family, 8th grade was his final year of school.

In 1936, the US had known 7 years of economic depression. President Roosevelt created public works programs including the Civilian Conservation Corps, more commonly known as the CCC. James was one of the lucky 250,000 men who received a living wage job through the CCC. By 1939, James was able to marry the love of his life, Antonette, and start a family of his own. I imagine that James prayed many joyful prayers of thanks to his beloved St. Anthony as he began to fulfill his biggest dream — starting a family of his own.

James’ oldest son, my father, was the first generation in his family to graduate from college. And I was the first child of a generation of Riveccas who did not learn Italian as their first language.

As a child, my Grandpa Jim faced hunger, poverty, low-wage work, homelessness, and cold New York winters without a warm coat.  Although my family’s circumstances have changed, there are still families in my own city who are struggling just as my Grandfather’s family did. They use St. Anthony Foundation’s Dining Room, our Social Work Center‘s Food Pantry, our Free Medical Clinic, our Employment Program, and our Clothing & Housewares Program. There’s no such thing as us and them – it’s all us.

I wish I could somehow go back in time and tell my Great Grandparents that their prayers to St. Anthony were answered. I would tell them that their dream to come to the US to help provide a better life for their family led me to be able to fulfill my dream – to work to help families who struggle like they did to one day be able to succeed and flourish in a society that became more just because of their participation in it.

(James Anthony Rivecca was born on October 27, 1916.  He died in 1995.  I wrote this blog entry as a birthday present for him.)