Why are Italians called guineas?

Answer 1

During WWII, the Italian fascist regime invaded Guinean Africa and set up base where Rommel soon took over. The Guineans eventually revolted against the Italian army and drove them out. Americans and Brits who fought against the Germans and Italians referred to the militia as the "Guinea" battalions.

Hence "guinea"

In this case, "Guinea" is a derogatory slang word. Used as a put-down against dark-skinned Italians (usually of Sicilian heritage). The variation in color stemmed from the invasion by the Moors. The Moors were a conquering group out of North Africa. They invaded and settled in areas of the Sahara desert, then moved on to invade the Italian island of Sicily. The Moors stronghold on the island was removed when Spain later drove them out due to the fact that Italy was a protectorate of Spain. There was obviously enough mixing of the races by that time to have an overall effect on the look of the people.

With any invasion there is always hatred of the invaders, and, of course, hatred against any remnants left behind. So within Italy itself, there were social issues due to this color variation.

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My grandfather said it also had to do with the guinea fowl, a bird that comes in a variety of plumage colors, primarily white or black, but underneath any color of plumage their skin is always black.

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It may relate to the popular laboratory animal, the Guinea Pig. They are not unknown as Pets among Italians. My Mother knew a woman with the very Italian name of Anna Buongiorno- Lit, Anna Good Morning or more accurately, Good Day ( not a Lois Lane type!) she had a whole flock of Cavies as she preferred to call them, eschewing the b etter known term of Guinea Pig. Pig angle could also suggest something underhanded and deceptive. Italian midget submarines were nearly always called Pig Boats by the Seamen that handled them, this was mildly derisive. Then sneaking under breakwaters and planting , say depth charges to blow boats out of the water ( that are undergoing repairs) sneaky kind of combat, that"s what the Pig boats did. So we have both hypotheses. Ironically, Italian Submarines, particularily the stealthy Veronica class were among the better tactical types used in World War II, and could dive deeper than either German or US undersea craft! So it goes.

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In Great Britain, Italian Masons were the highest paid masons because they were the most skilled in the trade so they were paid in Guinea's. That's where the name comes from.
Most Italian Immigrants were from the countryside. Even in the city, they kept chickens. Guinea hens are small and are good egg producers,ergo, guineas. Very disrespectful, but every new immigrant group had crosses to bear.