First Lady Jill Biden addressed an audience at the Italian Sons and Daughters of America Dinner, sharing personal family stories and praising the Italian American community’s contributions to the United States. “It’s great to be with you all. Not only because I’m proud of my Italian roots, but also because I can’t help but feel home-state pride whenever I’m in Pennsylvania. ,” the First Lady said, according to a White House statement.
In her remarks, Biden recounted the story of her great-grandparents, Gaetano and Conchetta Giacoppa, who emigrated from Italy and whose surname eventually became Jacobs upon their arrival at Ellis Island. The First Lady highlighted traits such as loyalty, kindness, and grit as the values they carried with them. “Their hearts were full. They had carried their values with them across the Atlantic: Loyalty. Kindness. Grit. And the courage to chase this country’s unlimited promise,” Biden said. She then traced her family’s history from their arrival to her role as a community college educator and becoming the nation's first Italian American First Lady.
Biden touched on the history of Italian Americans, acknowledging both the bright and dark days the community has faced in America. She recalled instances of past discrimination, including heinous acts of violence against Sicilians and employment discrimination signified by “Italians need not apply” signs. Despite such adversities, Biden emphasized the community’s perseverance and adherence to the values of “Liberty, Unity, and Duty.”
In connecting the past to the present, the First Lady reflected on President Joe Biden’s administration, citing the pandemic recovery efforts, economic growth, and the importance of creating more opportunities in the middle class as a continuation of her ancestors’ dreams. She mentioned her husband’s work stating, “He’s helped us heal from the pandemic, created millions of good jobs—including good union jobs, led the strongest economic recovery in modern history, and given more families a sense of real security in the middle class.” During the dinner, Jill Biden encouraged the audience to honor their heritage and the sacrifices made by their forebears.
To conclude her speech, Biden invoked her visit to Ellis Island, where her own ancestors, like many others, began their American journey. Echoing her family's experience, she spoke about the significance of community and preserving Italian American heritage. “Let’s make sure that their stories and sacrifices are never forgotten, and that their values live on in every generation to come,” she told the audience, as per the White House documentation.
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