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Normalization of Violence in the Mafia

Normalization of Violence in the Mafia. By: Olivia Ankrum. Code of Conduct. Code of Silence Complete obedience to the Boss Provide assistance to any other respected Mafia faction Vengeance especially for any family member Avoid contact with the authorities. The Brotherhood.

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Normalization of Violence in the Mafia

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  1. Normalization of Violence in the Mafia By: Olivia Ankrum

  2. Code of Conduct • Code of Silence • Complete obedience to the Boss • Provide assistance to any other respected Mafia faction • Vengeance especially for any family member • Avoid contact with the authorities

  3. The Brotherhood • “Use code of honor and omerta[silence] to teach their members how to behave and create a collective identity” • Silence especially to the feds was a sign of loyalty • “But personal goals are subordinated to the goals of the group, as mafia are obliged to be completely obedient to their chiefs, the place the mafia before all their previous ties (including blood relatives)” • Respect was gained off not asking questions and loyalty was demonstrated by following through

  4. Background • Began in Sicily mid 1800s when men needed to provide for their families • Men were willing to go to any extreme to provide for their families including tax evasion, illegitimate businesses, and extortion • Turned to violence in order to get what they want no matter

  5. Sammy “The Bull” GravanoCurrent Status: Incarcerated • Former underboss of the Gambino crime family • Father of Karen Gravano; reality TV star of MobWives • Mob “rat” that drew several other mob testimonies for the murder of Paul Castellano (former Boss of the Cosa Nostra) • After got charged for being a leader for ecstasy trafficking • Took blame for two children Karen and Gerard Gavano so they did not have to do life in prison

  6. “The Bull” continued.. • “I looked up to this brotherhood so much I wanted to be just like them, even if it meant not always doing the right thing. I liked that it had rules, structure, and organization. To me it was like being in the army and Cosa Nostra became my government” –Sammy • He testified in court on a count of twenty murders but blamed it on loyalty to the brotherhood • Men from the lifestyle appreaciated structure and rules because it gave them something to work for and stay united • Coming from another country and struggling together created the feeling of “brotherhood”

  7. Karen Gravano’s Perspective • “The ratting lesson was you had to stand behind what you did. No matter what the consequences were, were not going to rat” • Her father turned out to be a federal informant “rat” • Even now she still stands strong behind her father after he saved her from spending life in prison because of her ecstasy trafficking • Loyalty to her father trumps anything anyone could ever say abut her father to make her change her mind

  8. Al “Scarface” Capone Current Status: Deceased • Nickname came from when he was working the door one night, then accidentally insulted a women so her brother sliced his face with a knife • At the age of 26, was a Boss in Chicago who took over illegal breweries and sold liquor licenses • People bought them for the threat of being blown up • 100 people were killed in these bombings • Had political and police protection so everyone looked the other way

  9. Al “Scarface” Capone continued.. • Leader of the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre • Disguised as a meeting he tricked another “family” in the Chicago area to meet up and had his men dress up like police officers • Men lined up against wall without resistance • Shot seven of them dead • Convicted for it

  10. Capone Imprisonment • Locked up at age 33 in Alcatraz, with diagnoses of syphilis and gonorrhea • Caused neurosyphilis which erodes the brain leaving him with mental confusion the brain capacity of a twelve year old • Suffered severe withdrawal from cocaine addiction • No longer could lead from the inside with his lack of a strong mental state • Died within a year of release from prison from cardiac arrest

  11. The Godfather • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CDlBLvc3YE • Clip above demonstrates how people outside the lifestyle perceive the Cosa Nostra • Ruthless and pointless murder • Men in suits smoking cigars • Blood spurting everywhere

  12. Why violence? • the threat of being hurt at any given time enforced loyalty • If someone knew that they were going to get hurt than they would be much more likely to follow instructions from the Boss

  13. Outsiders to the Lifestyle Views • “Meanwhile, their carefully cultivated political connections and capacity for violence give them considerable leverage in competing for access to and control over public goods” • Al Capone is a prime example of manipulation of politics and police force can get Mafia Bosses an upper hand when it came to committing crimes • Believed that Mafia corrupted taxing because no one ever left a paper trail or documented their income

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