Episode 65: Li'l Pasqualin

Hillary and Tina cover Former U.S. Representative from North Carolina Robert Potter and the 1891 lynchings of eleven Italian Americans in New Orleans.

Hillary’s Story
Robert Potter’s reputation for spirited campaigns preceded him in most of his election cycles, but when his belligerence escalated, he committed a shocking act of violence that surprisingly left his future political prospects intact.

Tina’s Story
While walking home from work, several unknown men shot Police Chief David Hennessy who later died, but when suggestions that Italians were to blame, pressure mounted and led to one of the largest mass lynchings in United States history.

Sources
Hillary's Story
Yale Law School: Lilian Goldman Law Library
Constitution of North Carolina : December 18, 1776

The Downfall Dictionary
Robert Potter: kind of nutty

Wikipedia
Regulator--Moderator War
Robert Potter (American politician, died 1842)

Washington on the Brazos
The Fearless Fifty-Nine, Robert Potter

Gawker
Remembering Robert Potter, the North Carolina Castrater, Idiot of Yesteryear--by Andy Cush

NCpedia
Potter, Robert

Photos
Robert Potter, US House Representative from North Carolina--via Public Domain
Texas State Cemetery Headstone of Robert Potter--via Statesman

Tina's Story
Wikipedia
March 14, 1891 New Orleans lynchings
Joseph A. Shakspeare
Anti-Italianism
David Hennessy

The Mob Museum
New Orleans Police Chief David Hennessy

The New York Times
How Italians Became White--by Brent Staples
Eight Hundred Italians Vaccinated

The Undefeated
White immigrants weren’t always considered white — and acceptable--by Brando Starkey

Academic Works CUNY
We Weren’t Always White: Race and Ethnicity in Italian/American ys White: Race and Ethnicity in Italian/American Literature--by Fred L. Gardaphé