The Italian Mafia

The most important thing to immigrants past, present and future is not just having enough money to make it through the hard times, but having the support of family. Many did not make it through the hard times, but they were happy because they had family. One group of immigrants in particular, was the Italians. The Italians were family orientated and selfless. They took care of each other and helped to keep the neighborhood safe for their families. From the coast of Italy to the shores of New York and New Jersey, even across an ocean, traits and traditions did not change for the Italian immigrants. The mafia originated in Sicily, Italy. It came to the United States through immigration. Even though the mafia remained in Italy, the newly formed …show more content…
It was the second largest organized crime group in Italy. They came to the United States in the 1920s. Since then, there have been 2,500 members identified with this mafia. The Camorra or Neapolitan Mafia first appeared in the mid-1800s in Naples, Italy. It started as a prison gang and spread as the members were slowly released, hence the name Camorra, which means “gang”. There are over a hundred clans worldwide. In those clans are roughly seven thousand members. More than 200 of these members came to the United States in the 1970s. The ‘Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia was formed in the 1860s when a group of Sicilians were banished by the Italian government. In Greek, the name of this mafia means “courage” or “loyalty”. They formed 160 cells with six thousand members. Cells are connected family groups that are based on blood and marriage relationships. There are between one hundred and two hundred member in the United States today, primarily in New York and Florida. The fourth and final group is the Sacra Corona Unita or the United Sacred Crown. This group was formed in the late 1980s as a prison gang. Each member was slowly released and settled in the Puglia region of Italy. They continued to grow and form links with other mafia groups. The headquarters are in Brindisi and there are 50 clans with 2,000 members. Very few members have been identified in the …show more content…
The mafia is also called a family. In this family, the head of the family is called the Boss. He is also referred to as the “Don”. For example, the Boss in Chicago was Alphonse “Scarface” Capone. The next level or person is the “Consigliere”. He is an advisor to the family who is also a low profile gangster that can be trusted. The jobs they have in society are usually lawyers or stock brokers. They are used as representatives or mediators in meetings with other families or disputes. A consigliere is used, also, to keep the family looking nice and presentable. Next, we have the “Underboss”. He is appointed by the boss and second in command of the family. He is also the first in line for the throne if the king dies or is imprisoned. The boss controls all the “Capos” or “Captains”, but the underboss is in charge of them. Third from the top is the Caporegime or “Capo”. They are sometimes called Captains and are chosen by the boss. A Capo has a major social status and influence in the organization. These men are in charge of a “crew” of soldiers. Soldiers are members of the family who were once associates but were recommended by a Capo for “promotion” because they have proven themselves. They must be of Italian background. The boss has the final word and the soldiers becomes a part of that Capo’s crew. Associates, however, are not a part of the actual family and are the lowest on the totem pole. They do not have Mafia