IAP 274: Family Secrets, Family Honor: The Legacy of an Honor Killing in a Sicilian-American Family with Special Guest Karen Tintori

Francesca Costa's name should never have been remembered. In fact, had it not been for her great-niece's steadfast and unwavering love, any remembrance of Francesca's life would have been lost to time -- and that's exactly how the rest of her family wanted it. Italian American author Karen Tintori joins us this week to discuss her 2007 work, "Unto the Daughters." This chilling and sobering account of an honor killing in a turn-of-the-century Sicilian family– Karen's very own family— is also a beautifully heartbreaking testimony of love that spans generations and how the voice of truth cannot be silenced. Karen tells us how she first learned of Francesca's tragic story, and how she fought to reconstruct her great-aunt's life against overwhelming odds and determined resistance from her family by piecing together the scant information left behind after a brutal murder. She also explains how Francesca's story fit into the Detroit of the early 20th century, and what life could have been like for Italian immigrants to the Motor City in those days. We also examine the life of Italian immigrant women to the United States, and why Francesca's story reveals eerie parallels to some of the overlooked aspects of modern Italian American womanhood. Join us as we uncover a story, and a conversation that is sure to remain with you long after you listen!