The film “Green Book” just won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Now suppose the two main characters in the film had their ethnicities reversed.

Imagine if Dr. Don Shirley, an erudite musical genius, was depicted as Italian- American, and the Tony Lip character, an uncouth, knuckle-dragging thug who provides security for Shirley, was portrayed as an African-American.

Would the movie still be the Academy’s darling, or would it now sound racially insensitive? Be honest.

Director Peter Farrelly’s portrayal of Italian-American characters as violent, foul-mouthed louts is offensive and unfortunately standard fare in show business.

Among major American ethnic groups, Italian-Americans are probably the last to see themselves reflected in mass culture as a collection of criminals and halfwits.

You would be hard-pressed to tell that they have risen to the highest levels of American society, including speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Joseph Bonfiglio

Hawaii Kai

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