LE TRIBÙ URBANE DI NEW YORK: chi sono i veri americani?

0:01 New York City is a melting pot for the world. It's a land of opportunity. We get people from all parts of the world and when they get here, they become Americans, but they still hold on to those traditions and customs from all over the world. In the early 1900s, more than four million people came here, without really knowing what awaited them, just the promise that there would be jobs for them and great opportunities. New York City has so many different neighbourhoods but we all support one another. In China, the people were poor. In America, we are all Americans. My parents left their country and worked so hard.

0:56 My name is Giuseppe and I have a mission: to explore the most remote corners of the planet to meet guardians of ancient secrets, women and men with extraordinary stories and lives that can inspire us and help us see the world differently. And to each of them I will ask the most important question of all: "What does happiness mean to you?" A question so powerful it reveals the deepest essence of humanity. Welcome to the "HAPPINESS PROJECT." I don't think big introductions are needed,

1:42 I imagine you've all recognized it, thanks to its iconic skyscrapers, New York is probably the most famous city in the world. But today, the story I want to tell you starts right there, from Ellis Island, a little island that few know, but which between the late 1800s and mid-1900s became the gateway for more than twelve million people seeking a better life in America. Today New York, with over eight million people and more than 800 languages spoken, is the greatest melting pot experiment ever created. Every neighborhood has a heartbeat in a different language. Every block bears the mark of someone who came here with nothing and built everything, calling this corner of the world their home. But there is one community that has shaped this city’s history more than any other. They were among the first to land here.

2:27 They built bridges, skyscrapers, and railroads. They fought for these lands and made it home. And it’s with them that I want to begin this journey. Ireland! And if there's a day when New York changes color, it's this one—March seventeenth. Today is Saint Patrick’s Day. More than one hundred fifty thousand people are marching down Fifth Avenue, the most important street in New York, which has been shut down just for this, to celebrate the patron saint of the Irish—Irish people around the world, especially here in the United States. And we are here to understand what it means to be Irish in New York.

3:12 Over five million people of Irish descent live in the Big Apple. The first arrived in the mid-1800s, fleeing the Great Famine that devastated Ireland. But over time, they turned their story into a symbol of resilience and belonging that you can feel in every person we meet. And that's really what I think it means to be an Irish-American today, is to just honor the roots that we have and the traditions that come from Ireland. So it's really, it's a big part of our identity, and we like to honor the connection. And I think you'll find many Irish-Americans, even if they've been here for two, three, four generations, they still feel quite connected to their homeland. Many of the immigrants we see arriving on our shores today,

3:59 I think those same themes were present for the Irish immigrants back then. Many of them came looking for better opportunities. And then, of course, there was a horrible famine in Ireland, where people were starving, and they sort of came here almost as refugees from the "Potato Famine". We get people that come here from all parts of the world, and they bring their traditions and their customs with them, and when they get here, they become Americans, but they still hold on to those traditions and customs from all over the world. To help you understand what this parade really means here in New York, just think that it’s the biggest in the world, even bigger than the one in Ireland. And it’s actually older than the Constitution of the United States.

4:44 And since it began in 1762, it has never been cancelled, not even once. It’s also started to rain, but if there’s one certainty here, it’s that the celebration won’t stop. For 250 years, this celebration has never been cancelled, postponed, or called off... Rain, wind, snow, hail... the celebration has never been cancelled and it won’t happen today either. We celebrate, plain and simple. There are so many, so many anecdotes tied to Saint Patrick. The color, for example—the color green that unites all the Irish we see here, and all Irish people around the world. Well, it’s tied to the story of Saint Patrick who brought the Trinity... who explained the Trinity to the pagans using a shamrock leaf.

5:31 And that’s why the shamrock became a symbol of the Irish and green became the color of the Irish—precisely for this reason. Faith has always been the strongest bond in this community. It has been a refuge during hard times and the thread that has held together generations of Irish in New York. The greatest challenge that the world at large is facing is a lack of connection, right? We saw during the COVID pandemic that people were isolated. And one of the great gifts of our Catholic faith is the gift of community. That we don't just live our faith on our own, but we do so as parts of communities. And so whether it's our parishes or cultural organizations, like we see on display here, Irish organizations and others,

6:19 they are places where people can come together to live their faith with one another. The city of New York is certainly one of the greatest melting pots on earth, right? And so you have every culture and every religious tradition found here. And it's amazing how folks get along, not only get along, but love one another and learn from one another. And so while there is a sizable Catholic population, we're blessed for the great diversity of this city. Very moving, because these are actually firefighters—New York firefighters who are remembering all the victims of 9/11 with 343 flags that we now see marching in front of us

7:07 and it's incredibly meaningful that they are marching on Saint Patrick’s Day because many of New York’s firefighters are of Irish descent, just like the police officers because back then, the Irish who came from Ireland looking for a better life had no job opportunities, and often ended up as police officers, laborers of course, and firefighters. And that's why they earned the honor and respect of the whole city, saving the lives of New Yorkers—let’s put it that way—and today they're marching to honor their fallen brothers. This is not just a party—it's the celebration of those who gave everything for this country, chasing the dream of a better life and leaving a legacy that still lives on. So this day for me... there's so much pride in this day, because my parents were immigrants.

7:54 They met each other in America, so I wouldn't be here. And I get choked up because it's such a beautiful day for people like me. My parents left their country and worked so hard to make a life for me and my children. That is the story of most of the people here and that's why they take off work and they come out by the hundreds of thousands to honor their parents and their grandparents. We all come from an immigrant experience. So we lean on each other, and we know that it's slightly different, but we're living almost the same lives, like parallel lives. So there's so much respect for people.

8:39 And that's why everybody's Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Like, it's the funniest thing that New York... Look around! Not everybody's Irish, but they are today. I personally believe happiness comes from an attitude of gratitude. So if you're grateful for what you have and how you got there, then you'll be happy. Even though I look sad. Because I always have to have that appreciation for how I got here. Today, when I was in St. Patrick's Cathedral for Mass, I was thanking God for my family and my experience. Even I look like I'm going to cry, I mean, I'm so blessed. I'm so lucky.

9:41 Every person we pass has a story, a dream, a fear, a past they might not be able to let go of. And sometimes it happens that we're surrounded by people, yet we feel alone. Other times we’d like to say everything we’re holding inside, but we don’t know to whom—or where to begin. And that’s why today I want to tell you about “Serenis.” “Serenis” is an online psychological support platform—a safe space where you can talk to a professional who truly listens to you. It allows you to talk to a professional psychologist directly from your phone or computer. And it only takes a moment to take the first step. Answer a few questions and they’ll match you with the therapist best suited to you. And you can start your journey. The first session is free, because getting started is the hardest part,

10:27 and “Serenis” wants to make it as easy as possible. You don’t need to have all the answers, and you don’t need to know where to begin. Sometimes all you need is someone willing to listen to you. Take care of yourself and book your first free session on “Serenis.” The Irish opened the doors of this city with sacrifice and courage. And once they proved that a future was possible here, other dreamers followed: men and women who crossed oceans, left everything behind, clinging to a thread of hope. They came from China and, like the Irish, they found a tough, hostile, sometimes ruthless city.

11:17 But they too, step by step, rewrote their own destiny. And it's proof that in New York, every immigration story is different, but in the end, they all speak the same language. Or almost. It’s curious to know that in this part of New York, the primary language is not English but Chinese, or Mandarin or Cantonese, depending on the origins of the ancestors who moved here many years ago. Well, that’s because the Sino-Chinese community is unfortunately the one that suffered the most discrimination in history. But to better understand the tribe we’re immersing ourselves in, we need to go back a few centuries in history. At the end of the 1800s, East and West brushed against each other for the first time here in America. Two distant, different worlds. The first Chinese immigrants brought with them traditions that to Americans seemed magical.

12:06 Among them, traditional Chinese medicine. The oldest healing system in the world. An ancient knowledge made of herbs and needles and an invisible energy. A tradition so powerful that it was able to cross the boundaries of the Chinese community and merge seamlessly with American culture. Thanks also to Thomas and his ancestors, who brought their herbal knowledge here and founded what is still today the oldest Chinese medicine pharmacy in the United States. This is the oldest herbal dispensary, probably in the country now. Like that's been running continuously since 1973. And it was started by my dad and my grandfather. Because in the beginning, the city didn't understand, the State didn't understand.

12:51 And people, they did not want it, they didn't want Chinese medicine, they didn't understand, they didn't know what acupuncture is. And now, in the hospitals, there's Department of Acupuncture now. Alright, let's go! Walking into Thomas’ pharmacy is like crossing the threshold of time. The wooden shelves, the hundreds of drawers, the enveloping scent of herbs and roots. Every detail around us tells of centuries of tradition that today has become a bridge between East and West. A place where ancient remedies continue to thrive, unchanged, in the beating heart of New York. Herbs are not used singularly. Like there would be no licorice pill for one thing.

13:38 It's always like a movie and everyone has a role. Ok. There are like 8, 9, 10 herbs and everyone has a specific role. Some play supporting cast, some are the leaders, so it depends on the formula. So if I come here and say: "I have a headache", it's not just one thing? No, absolutely not. It's not a static thing where: "Okay, someone carved it in a mountain in China, okay, this is what we're going to do from now on." No. It evolves. It's always evolving and it's always getting better. When I first got here I had no clue what was going on. I didn't know China was poor, but I knew America was very profitable. I was planning to work, initially. But when I got here, there was no Chinese herb store.

14:23 No Chinese herb store. And I realized that soon there would be a need for Chinese doctors and Chinese medicine. So I kicked off... kicked off my own Chinese medicine store. How do you know where all the herbs are here? It's impossible to remember with all these... Yeah, yeah. That means we are experienced, we don't need to have it written. Some people need to write it down, but we did it for a long time so we don't need it. And that makes me happy because I can help others. Because there are many patients for whom Western medicine doesn't work. Western medicine doesn't work. Among the many patients I've seen, most of their health problems are related to emotions. Western medicine can't help with this. Western medicine doesn’t get to the root of the problem. And before I left, Thomas and his father had a surprise for me.

15:11 I never would’ve thought this experience would bring me here, but here I am, I’m a cat right now. But for those who’ve never tried it, it doesn’t hurt at all—you just feel a little prick. And all these needles release energy or unblock energy that in some cases helps with digestion or, in this case for example, the nasal septum, the mucous membranes, colds, and so on. So, if I understood correctly, this is your mission. You want to help people through Chinese medicine? Yeah, I wanted to bring this natural healing method to more people that have never experienced it. Incorporating the ancient medicine with new technologies.

16:01 Sometimes, Western medicine may not be able to treat. And in the Chinese medicine sector, we're trying to use this ancient method to help the body to reset in a natural way. And it doesn't cause a lot of side effects. And it's just a self-healing process. And you will feel the shift in energy, like, right after several treatments. This journey is teaching me that every tribe that arrived here gave something of itself: culture, knowledge, traditions. And that’s the magic of New York. Everything intertwines and becomes part of one big story. But there’s still one important chapter to tell, one without which this story wouldn’t be complete.

16:49 It’s quite something to walk here, in what is—or was—the heart of the Italian tribe in New York. And I say “was” because now only a couple of streets are dedicated to Italians. Whereas once there were over 50 blocks where all the Italians who had immigrated to the United States lived. And just think, in the early 1900s, more than four million people came here without really knowing what awaited them. Only the promise of cousins, relatives, friends who were already here and who had promised them there would be jobs and great opportunities. Even though many didn’t even speak English—in fact, many were illiterate—but they helped one another. It was a big community. And here, everyone says the city was built by immigrants. For Italians, that’s especially true, because many of them worked on the big skyscraper constructions,

17:35 the subways—contributing to and building the new face of the Big Apple. Among the most recognizable symbols of Italy in New York are definitely Nino’s cannoli. A true Sicilian who brought his pastry-making art here, turning it into a landmark for anyone looking for an authentic taste of Italy. And when people come in, I always speak to them in Sicilian. Yeah? And they leave happy, because we connect, we connect the old-fashioned way. Yes. The old-fashioned way. My son. Does he speak Sicilian? No, just a few words, little by little. Little by little. When I say something in Sicilian, he goes: “Dad, what are you saying?”

18:23 And so I explain it to him in English, right? If you want to speak in Italian, we can speak in Italian, if you want to speak in Sicilian, we can speak in Sicilian. He mixes it up, he is like a DJ, he goes through all different languages. I make insalata! In America we are all Americans. Yeah? Everyone. Americans are the Native Americans—if you go to Arizona or California, they’re still there. Yes. It's a land of opportunity, you know, especially in the 50s, 60s and 70s. I came for work, not to get anything for free. After two days, somebody introduced me to come to work here. And I’m still here. For many years... Since 1966. Wow! And now my son is running the pastry shop.

19:08 So this place is really original, we didn't really change anything here, all the machinery is all original. These machines came off the World War ship, the Navy ships. Wow! These have been here since 1945 and probably on the Navy ship for another 20 years. Is this table from 1945? Yes. The tables, the oven... This is going to last a thousand years. And this is too from 1945? This is original from 1945, it never moved. It's part of my secret. To make things taste the way that they always tasted, it has to be prepared in the same manner. My trays are original. I try to keep everything up to date, but I like to continue to use the same materials.

20:00 This way the customers come back and they taste like what they originally taste. When I came from Italy, my bank account was zero plus zero, balance zero. Not even a penny. You know, you're talking about going back in time to a world in Sicily that when he explains it, it's fascinating because they didn't have anything. I think this is why he went into this business because he tells the story of they had one "cannolo" a year and that was Christmas. That's it, that's it. Yeah, only for Christmas. We take it for granted. You go to "Costco", you buy whatever you want, you go to the "Super Bowl", you buy whatever you want. You can't even understand how I understand those words because, of course, I didn't live it in that way,

20:49 I didn't feel this misery, let's say, or simple life. But those stories resonate with me because, you know, my parents, my grandfathers, all my family is from Sicily and this was the life. They talk about the hard times. Yeah. And they didn't have everything. They ate stale bread, you know. Here we have everything. Stale bread was good, my mother saved every piece and made a nice soup. Yeah. And when you're hungry, everything is delicious. I'm not a rich man, but I'm happy. Yeah. That's all you need, you don't need a lot of money to be happy. But I'm happy. And now I'm happy, we're going to make cookies. So tell them, what are you making today, dad? Today, we're going to make rainbow cookies. Every week, we make rainbow cookies.

21:38 Is it your, let's say, favorite one? It's definitely one of our most popular and one of my favorites, but my father has a lot of favorites. Nino is an artist, and these pastries are his masterpieces. And I have the tough job of tasting them all. Shall we share it? That is for you. Half for you and half for me? No, no, eat it all. But it’s a lot. Eat a bit... And share it with your friend. We'll split it, we'll split it. Ok. You share. This is a traditional dessert, for those who don’t know, for the very few who don’t know,

22:23 it's a typical Sicilian pastry for St. Joseph's Day. And so I absolutely have to taste it. Here it is. Is this the one you get asked for the most, or not? No, we make them only during the St. Joseph period. During the year, after Easter, we don't make them anymore—we make other things, right? Nino, it’s delicious! Incredible—it feels like being in Sicily. Now a customer just walked in—they’re speaking dialect, Sicilian. And he says, “It's been a long time since I last saw you.” This place is truly magical. Beautiful! So you insert the tube all the way in.

23:10 Then you squeeze and stop when it’s full. Yeah. You stop like that. It’s one of those things that looks easier to watch than to actually do. Hold it like that... Place the bag like this. Okay, hold it... good. I feel a lot of pressure—your customers are all watching me. Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze. Okay, you made a bit of a mess, but I forgive you. I forgive you. That's enough. Mizzega! Mizzega! Okay. Okay. I forgive you this time. You made a different design. Yeah, it's a new style. You're going to sample everything. Come here, come close. Come close. Nino's are better than this. Oh my goodness. Come here. That's a cannolo. Thank you, thank you.

23:55 So we're looking for the formula for happiness, but I think it's right here, right? I think so. Everyone is happy with cannoli. That was perfect! It is great. You smiled so well! Look at that! Do you see what happened? Take this lady over here. She smiles. She's happy, happy. Wait, wait, wait. Hold on, hold it in your hand. Wait a minute. Don't move. Okay. No, no! Eh, sweets bring joy. Sweets bring happiness, joy. You know? And when you bring home a tray of pastries, everyone is happy. I don't know why, but sweets bring joy.

24:44 And in the end, Nino is right—sweets make everyone happy. They have something almost magical about them. But what really makes the difference is the passion and love he puts into them every day. And that, in the end, is the secret ingredient that makes everything so special. New York is made up of a thousand worlds that brush up against and blend with each other. And of urban tribes who crossed oceans, wars, and hardship, bringing their identity with them. And yet, the more I listened to their stories, the more I realized that beneath all those differences was something uniting them. A visceral need to belong. The deep desire to be seen and recognized simply for who you are. And among these tribes, happiness doesn't seem like an individual goal, but rather something collective.

25:30 And I believe it lies in the bonds that endure, in traditions passed down, and in sacrifices shared. And maybe that’s the real miracle of New York. A city that truly tests you, pushes you to the edge, but... if you really listen to it, it teaches you that happiness isn’t about carving out space—it’s about finding it together.