Italian Mafia Essay - 1315 Words

Italian Mafia The Mafia was first developed in Sicily in feudal times to protect the estates of landlords who were out of town. The word Mafia, derived from the Sicilian word, Mafioso, means family. Today, Mafia is a name which describes a loose association of criminal groups. These groups can be bound together by blood, oath or sworn secrecy. Many people had considered the Sicilian Mafia as the most ruthless mobsters of the twentieth century. By the nineteenth century, the Mafia had become known as a network of criminal thugs that dominated the Sicilian countryside. Members of the Mafia were bound by Omerta. Omerta, an Italian word, stands for a strict code of conduct. The code include avoiding all contact or cooperation with†¦show more content†¦Due to the language barriers, cultures and people did not mix. The Italians remained with, socialized with, and committed crimes on other Italians within the Italian community. The Chicago Mafia remained incontact with the Mafia connections in Italy. Since each community had their own gang, there were several of them. There was the Chinese, Irish, Jewish, and Italian gangs. Each gang had their own style. For example: there was the Dead Rabbits gang. They were known for attacking regular civilians in broad daylight. They got their name by the unforgettable dead rabbits they carried on sticks while beating people up. There was also the Italian Mafia. They were recognized by the Black Hand. The Black Hand was a letter with a black hand print on it. The letter would simply ask for money. Every Italian knew that if you refused to pay, it would cost you your life. The only way to be immune to the terrifying Black Hand was to be a part of the Mafia. Even Italian tenor Enrico Coruso received a Black Hand letter demanding two thousand dollars. Without thought or hesitation, Enrico paid in full. However, when he received a second Black Hand letter demanding an additional fifteen thousand dollars, Enrico went to the police. Because of this set up, authorities were able to arrest two men inconnection with the Mafia. For the next three years, Enrico feared for his life, and had several guards escort him everywhereShow MoreRelatedItalian Mafia Essay1356 Words   |  6 PagesThe Mafia was first developed in Sicily in feudal times to protect the estates of landlords who were out of town. The word Mafia, derived from the Sicilian word, Mafioso, means family. Today, Mafia is a name which describes a loose association of criminal groups. These groups can be bound together by blood, oath or sworn secrecy. Many people had considered the Sicilian Mafia as the most ruthless mobsters of the twentieth century. By the 1900‘s, the Mafia had be come known as a network of criminalRead More American Mafia vs. Italian Mafia in Cinema Essay2645 Words   |  11 Pagesconcept to life within the Mafia from their point of view. Doing so, creating a positive association. Yet within Italy, the same topic contains a complete different view. Movies such as I Cento Passi demonstrate unenthusiastic view by those whom are outside yet negatively affected by those members. Unlike American films, the gangsters are not as often viewed at the protagonist and are the main causes for the problematic events. But how different is Italian Mafia and American Mafia in cinema? The GodfatherRead MoreThe Italian Mob And The Russian Mafia1323 Words   |  6 PagesWhen people think of organized crime they think of the Italian mob and the Russian mafia. They are the ones that they see in movies and on television, and the ones that they hear about the most. However, they were created a couple centuries after their Asian counterparts, the Yakuza in Japan, and the Triads in China. These Asian syndicates were founded in the sixteenth and seventeenth century and consisted of merchants and other people in what was basically the middle class. They were just groupsRead MoreThe Rise and Fall of the Italian Mafia1664 Words   |  7 Pagesfocuses on glamorizing the Mafioso lifestyle, distracting from the true nature of organized crime. Over the past decade, the key opportunities have been utilized by the Italian Mafia, resulting in a powerful behind-the-scenes dominance over many aspects we may not expect. Its gonna be a Cosa Nostra. The Honored Society, or Mafia, as it was less often called, was a vast criminal brotherhood that had developed in Palermo and western Sicily independently of the Camorra of Naples. They developedRead MoreTony Sopranos And The Italian Mafia777 Words   |  4 PagesIn popular American culture, the Italian Mafia has always been portrayed through romantic lenses. Almost as if mirroring the sentiments of the audience, Henry Hill in the movie The Goodfellas tells the viewers, â€Å"As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.† (Scorcese) The quintessential mafia movie, The Godfather, was made over forty years ago, yet Michael Corleone stays at the forefront of popular American icons. What’s not to love about a no-nonsense tough guy, willing to goRead MoreThe American Mafia, An Italian American Organized Crime Network Essay1730 Words   |  7 Pages The American Mafia, an Italian-American organized crime network with operations in cities across the U nited States, particularly New York and Chicago, rose to power and control through its success in the illegal liquor trade during the 1920s Prohibition era. After Prohibition, the Mafia moved into other criminal missions, from drug trafficking to illegal gambling, while also intruding with labor unions and legal businesses such as construction, and New York’s garment industry. The Mafia’s violentRead MoreThe Origins Of The American Mafia1711 Words   |  7 Pagessociety has been fascinated with the gangster lifestyle and the American Mafia is no exception to this trend. Mafia themed movies such as Scarface and Goodfellas have proven to be timeless classics. However, the American Mafia goes deeper than the media shows. While they do have the same name, the American Mafia is a group of Italian Americans and is not directly affiliated with the original Sicilian Mafia. The American Mafia is a highly organized and complex nationwide criminal network with a membershipRead MoreItalian Women in Violent Organizations Essay831 Words   |  4 PagesItalian Women in Violent Organizations The essay, Mafiosi and Terrorists: Italian Women in Violent Organizations, by Alison Jamieson, discusses the role women have played in violent organizations in Italy. Despite male exclusivity and authoritarianism, women involved in such organizations have come a long way in widening the horizons of female influence in administration and commercial roles. The paper looks at, analyzes and compares two main violent organizations in Italy, the leftistRead More Mafia Essay1422 Words   |  6 Pages The Mafia way of life may seem like a romantic updated version of the western movie played out on the streets of the big cities where the good guys and the wise guys who share the same instincts and values do battle before an enthralled public but it is actually very different. The Mafia is really just a group of uneducated thugs making money by victimizing the public. Initially, the Mafia was setup as a prominent supplier of bootlegged liquor, but it has spread into many different areas of crimeRead MoreEssay about Organized Crime1744 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica as well as the social state of its homeland, Europe. Our society is convinced that the so-called Mafia is a family of pure criminals, pimps, and murderers. Whatever the opinion, there is no doubt that the Mafia played a big part in the history of America and the way Americans view crime today. The origins of the secret society known as the Mafia are believed to be as old as the 9th century (Mafia History). During the 9th century, the Mafias main purpose was to strengthen themselves against enemies