I believe the answer is: italians take over and change white and black cultural traditions
The author make a reference on the migration of italian citizens to united states (mostly new york and chicago). The italian immigrants brought a mafia culture to united states which back than were in a fight for dominance for black and white culture.
half shy half assertive - stage direction
Hope this help
<span> It is believed that the first Dutch settlers came to South Africa in 1652. These settlers founded the city of Cape Town and over time developed a unique culture, language, and society, helping to form a unified Afrikaner population. Afrikaners, also formerly known as Boers, historically have been defined as those Afrikaans language-speakers of European especially Dutch descent who have inhabited Southern Africa since the 17th century.
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