How is the Italian or Italian-American Mafia a major part of American Society?
Actually, when you mention actors like Robert De Niro, you see a great deal of protest by some Italian-Americans who feel such movies have cast a great shadow over a race, if you will, that had extremely humble and grueling beginnings here, just as the Irish, etc. had. You can see how the mafia and its glorification can be detrimental to taking them seriously. In The Sopranos, this is addressed, as Tony has to put up with the crap of the golfing white dudes who just keep asking stupid mafia questions. The mafia’s contribution to American crime is obvious, as is its contribution to media and entertainment, as the former sets off the other, they are both awful ways of evaluating the worth of Italian-Americans. Instead, look at their contribution to American Society as it stands thru the Industrial Revolution and see that they’ve worked their asses off like others, they aren’t all gangsters people.
