It
is hard to pinpoint the origins of the mafia, their whole existence is built
on secrecy. One of the oldest mafias is the Camorra
of Naples. They began at least 3 centuries ago, perhaps even more. They started
by controlling gambling businesses, then branched out into other “activities”.
Sometimes their gangs would be built along boundary lines, and sometimes along
familial lines.
My
own family line comes into contact with the mafia through my great grandfather.
He was dropped off at an orphanage in Italy when he was only a week or two old.
When he was nine years old the mafia bought him, sent him to the United States
and made him pay them ten percent of all that he earned. He continued to pay
them until the day he died.
On
one hand it is easy to see the misdeeds that the mafia does, after all, my
great grandfather paid them many times over for the money they spent to send
him to the states. But on the other hand the mafia has played an essential role
in helping many people, albeit in a roundabout way. As The Best of Sicily magazine puts it, “The Mafia was not a cause of
Sicily's social problems so much as a reflection or symptom of them.” Without
that mafia, my family would be locked in a downtrodden part of Italy.
I'm not sure yet what you think about having your family connected to the mafia but I think that it's cool. The mafia is something that every has at least heard of even if they don't really know what it is. It's also an interesting story that brings your family to america. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI think this, as far as family history goes, is quite an interesting story! I loved your use of the quote about the Mafia being a symptom of the societal problems that Sicily experienced and not their cause. It presents an interesting moral "loop-hole" in the conversation about organized crime.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting perspective on the mafia! It makes a lot of sense that they started in gambling houses, but to continue on and inadvertently affect your family in a positive way is such a cool story.
ReplyDelete10% sounds like tithing... haha. But in all seriousness that is a interesting perspective on the Mafia. The end of this situation was good but the means were undoubtedly bad. It begs the classic question: Do the ends justify the means?
ReplyDelete