A few weeks ago, I was in Great Neck for the weekend. My friend and I went on a walk around her neighborhood and she told me that an Israeli mobster lives nearby. His driveway is made of marble and he owns the only house in the area that has a gate securing the entrance. People have been killed due to trespassing his house. I told her that I would love to drive by after the Sabbath to do research for my blog post but she replied “do you know that people have gotten shot for driving too close to his house?” I would still have liked to drive by to see a mafia house in New York.
The New York mafia preceded the Chicago Mafia. Johnny Torrio who was originally part of the mafia in New York, moved to Chicago to begin the Chicago Outfit, his bootlegging empire. He then hired two graduates of his alma mater, New York’s Five Points Gang, Al Capone and Jimmy DeStefano to assist him. DeStefano did not accept and was later killed. Capone became Torrio’s protégé and the leader of the Chicago Outfit.
In Chicago, The Outfit and the North Side Gang, lead by Dion O’Banion, became allies. Later they became rivals due to O’Banion cheating Torrio, therefore Torrio had him killed. This murder led to a brutal war between the gangs and Torrio was forced to leave Chicago. Capone then took over the Outfit.
These mobsters were callous with killing. They were dangerous men that would “whack” anything that got in their way. The police were paid off by the mafia and therefore rarely arrested the gangsters. If they were arrested, no one would testify against them. Mobsters were sometimes charged with small crimes such as tax evasion, like Al Capone. He was sentenced to eleven years in prison but was released after six for good behavior.
The Chicago gangsters continue to have an effect on culture today. A movie called “Public Enemies” was released last year about the mafia in Chicago. The movie begins with two gangsters breaking into a jail and freeing some of their gang-members. A policeman convinces them to hide out in Chicago so the mafia will protect them. An investigation agent is promoted to find the gang leader, John Dillinger, that broke into the jail. Dillinger, before his last robbery, drops off his love interest, Billie, to a place that is thought to be safe however the police abduct her and interrogate her about the whereabouts of Dillinger. She does not speak and gives her lawyer a message to tell Dillinger to wait until she is released from jail. Dillinger is later killed and Billie is let free.
Due to the effect that gangsters have had on today’s culture there are “Gangstas” These men are typically known to dress in baggy clothes and are more likely African American. They also commit crimes and carry weapons like their predecessors. Suge Knight has been known to be in a long-time dispute with P. Diddy which is thought to have lead to the death of many gangsters including Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur. The feud occurred due to Knight insulting Diddy’s record label and is thought to also have a connection to drugs.
Organized crime today stemmed from the mafia in Chicago. They had a large influence on today’s gangsters. There are murders, bootlegging and gang wars. The real question is: have gangsters really changed?
I really enjoyed the parallel between gangsters of the 20s and the "gangsters" that we feel the need to put quotes around..because are they really gangsters? Of have they just absorbed gangster culture?
ReplyDeleteI think while the organized crime aspect of gangsters has still remained, gangsters themselves have changed dramatically. But I do think we can trace back the origins of today's gangster culture to the 20s. In a way two major themes of the 20s - jazz and gangsters - have combined to form today's modern-day gangsters. The ones whose parents and grandparents went through slavery, created jazz, which took the pain from their past and turned it into something beautiful. Today the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the jazz creators have created the rap and gangster culture as a way of expressing the violence that they went through as well. But in a way they create their own violence by involving themselves in gangs and heavy crime...
I agree with Kim on the point that gangs have definitely changed over the years. I recently watched the Godfather again and my father and I were commenting on the fact the in the 20's gangs, as paradoxical as it sounds, had a certain code of ethics. Sure they killed members of an opposing gang, but normally did not kill innocent bystanders. The Godfather, Don Vito Corleone, is a revered member of his community, people come to him for help and advice. Furthermore, the movie emphasizes how he would do anything for a family member, there was a strong bond of family within gangs. Another example of his "ethical" conduct is the fact that he turns down a deal involving drugs because he felt it was dirty business and did not want to get involved in it. Today's gangs lack any ethical code. They are feared, not revered, and commit random murders. Most are also drug dealers, and they are just violent. While the concept may be the same, the type of men involved, as well as the crimes committed, have certainly changed for the worse overtime.
ReplyDeleteKim - your comment about today’s gangsters “absorbing gangster culture” made me think of the many aspects of our culture that have been absorbed from other cultures and other times. For example, ever notice the parallels between the way we dress today and the style of the 1980’s. Leggings and longer/baggier tops have come back in some capacity. Also for a while there was the “bumb” at the top of a girls head created out of her hair to add “umph” resembling the styles of the 1950’s. The shoes “Shuks” were platformed much like the style of shoes in the 70’s and on and on. I agree with you that gangs have changed over the years but it seems, along with what Jenny said, that they have changed for the worse. While rappers often talk about respect and loyalty, there seems to be very little of that in the gang communities of today. I wonder if like trends repeating we’re always bound to repeat the mistakes of the past, but perhaps like gangs we’re bound for the worse.
ReplyDeleteI believe that true gangsters today, not the masses that have simply tried to imitate gangster culture, have not essentially changed through history. They still use intimidation to get their way (example: drug cartels), bribe officials, and sell items in high demand (back then it was beer, now it's drugs). Ultimately, although gangsters today have more sophisticated weapons and hustle different items, they're the same basic characters as they were in the 1920s.
ReplyDeleteKim- You made a very good point about the gangsters of today expressing the violence that they and their ancestors have been through. However their ancestors were able to find a creative outlet for their pain by Jazz whereas these "gangstas" are expressing their pain through dangerous acts.
ReplyDeleteJenny- The gangsters in the 20's were feared as well. My great-grandfather actually had to pay $5 per week in order for his store to be protected. He told my grandmother that he feared the mafia. I do agree with you that the gangsters of today are feared differently then they were back in the 20's.
Tami- "History repeats itself". I'm curious to see what will happen in the future as well.
Helen- There are many similarities between the gangsters of today and the 20's. Both types of gangsters used similar methods of violence in order to pedal their product and make money, more than their rival gangs.
Just to clarify I did not mean people did not fear them they were gangs after all and used rackateering, I simply meant it seems as if they had some type of moral code.
ReplyDeleteJenny - at least they had a moral code... I'm sure they were feared and all that but they still maintained some sense of integrity.
ReplyDeleteWe know also that early gangs had a strong sense of family loyalty. We've all talked about this "moral code" that early gangs had but do we know if they actually kept to that code?
ReplyDeleteI think that gang culture today has progressed to a point beyond instilling fear through violence and making money. In many cases today, gangs have become outlets used by lower classes to establish identity's. There are obviously many different types of gangs, not all of them violent, but a common theme that I believe pervades "gang culture" is the idea that bonding together with like minded individuals strengthens cultural bonds and creates a stronger sense of self.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kim. Tami and Jenny- how do we know that they had a moral code? They clearly didn't care about murdering.
ReplyDeleteAvital- I do agree with you that there are pros to gangs such as they can create bonds amongst their members however, I would not say that gangs are positive. Most gangs are based on illegal acts and therefore there are many people such as gang specialists and police forces attempting to transform them to something constructive. Without weapons these gangs could be a positive outlet for children that have no where else to go. Gangs have the potential to be valuable however I don't think they are there yet.
Avital-While what you say is true for younger gang members and troubled teens who are looking for a suppotive outlet, most people who are at the "top" of the gangs (who are running them) are mainly interested in making money. It may be that in the 1920s, Al Capone was interested in bootlegging for money, but one of his cronies was looking for a supportive outlet. So, when it comes to brass tacks, gangs are essentially the same now as they were back then.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Avital. I believe that people who tend to be in gangs are usually in the lower class. Throughout their lives they have heard that they would amount to nothing and that they can't be anybody of significance. So since society wouldn't give them a chance, these people have to go and make a name for themselves and some of them decided to go and join gangs in order to achieve power and status. By joining a gang they are rebelling against society and how the people in it could dictate who will and will not be somebody of substance.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things to comment on but I'm gonna stick to Yael's original post mostly: I, too, really think the relation between the gangsters of today and the 20's is interesting, and like what Tami said about trends reappearing. I don't think this will be my first time saying this in a post but I wonder if like Prohibition, if the laws were lifting on drugs, Marijuana, would the crime rate drop? Would the gangs maybe disappear like they eventually trickled out of sight like they did in the 30's once alcohol was no longer outlawed. Maybe we should learn from the history.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with Helen, the gangs of today, do have a sort of brotherhood amongst their members. I'll admit I don't know much on the gangs of today, which was also an interesting point Yael, about P.Diddy, I had never heard that before. Gotta brush up on my gangsters of the 90's history.
Aliyah, I also did not know about the dispute with P. Diddy and Suge Knight before writing this post. It is very interesting but I knew that some dispute had to do with the killing of Tupac and Biggie. With regard to Helen and Elizabeth's comments two of the most common reasons why people join gangs are to make money and gain power. Each of these reasons lead to the other, they have a direct relationship.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you connected the gangs of the 1920s to the gangs of today. i feel that most people who participate in gangs are usually lower class and are poor.These people think that violence is the answer whne it clearly is not.
ReplyDeleteMiriam, you are correct violence is clearly not the right way to handle any situation. Both gangs use violence as a means to get what they want and therefore they are similar in that way.
ReplyDeleteMiriam, I think that is an interesting point you make about gangs being "lower class." When I think about classic 20s gangs in Chicago and New York, I don't think "lower class" at all. To me it seems that the gangs of the 20s were raking it in and lived very lavish lifestyles. expensive pin-stripe suits, anyone? In light of that, it's interesting that the "gangstas" of today seem to not live or dress as immaculately. It seems that the methodology of the gangster is the aspect that has stayed in our culture, not the fantasy gangster-legend lifestyle we associate with gangster families.
ReplyDeleteRacheli, some of the gangsters of today as I have mentioned previously are big-time rappers. These gangsters also live lavishly as did the gangsters of yesteryear. Although they do not dress as impeccably, they have similar qualities for example, their fortunes. Both gangs have different ranks of its members- the top will ultimately earn more than the lower ones. The gangsters of the 20's did not live immaculately- they were flawed in their mentality being that they thought killing the innocent was OK.
ReplyDeleteI think also Racheli that people's vision of luxury has changed. The "gangstas" of today may not wear pin striped suits in order to flaunt wealth, but they wear heavy diamond encrusted chains, grills ( gold teeth), they drive expensive cars these are the status symbols of today. Combined with this is their style of slouchy jeans falling down and wife beaters. While we view this fashion as "lower class" this is a part of their culture; thus it does not illustrate that they are of a lower socio-economic class but rather that they are connected to the African American community. In this post I am referring to todays rappers- not the usual gang member in a hood who I agree lives a very low clas lifestyle, typically in a projects home.
ReplyDeleteJenny, you are right that the classifications of wealth changed over time. Rappers are wealthy, however most of them have come from low-income families. They have been able to become successful and have brought their culture with them in the media and in front of the public. The lower class wear similar clothing to the rappers of today because it is the same style that the rappers grew up wearing. The rappers brought the low-income style into fashion.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, i think most comments in this post are underestimating the organization that is prevalent in many of todays gangs. in an article that i read for my sociology class, the author infiltrated a local drug selling gang (I can't recall in which city). He explains that at first he didn't understand that there was any order to the gang, but upon watching the gangs activities and with gaining the trust of the leaders, he began to learn all the intricacies of the hierarchy. The gang kept exact records of all of its drug sales and payments. Each member of the gang got paid according to the level that he was on. obviously the few leaders at the top got the bulk of the money, but even they didn't get all the money- because this gang reported to a larger council of gang leaders. Basically, the drug gangs of today that we think are running just a violence ridden and unorganized drug sale, are really quite organized and masterful in what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteGila, it is very interesting to understand the masterfulness behind the gangs. However, despite how organized they were, these gangs committed crimes as their business. They received an income from these illegal acts. Therefore although they were crafty, they were not the type of people that you would want to surround yourself with. These gangsters were criminals.
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