Little Italies: Italian Immigrants In The 19th Century

“Statistics prove that the scum of Southern Europe is dumped at the nation's’ door in rapturous, conscienceless, law-breaking hordes” (Dickie 162). Escaping poverty and overpopulation in Italy, particularly Sicily, Italian immigrants flocked to America in hopes of reaping the benefits of a booming industrial revolution. With emphasis on family bonds and the prevalence of tradition, Italian Americans established communal centers, known as Little Italies, in several of the largest American cities, notably in New York and Chicago. With the initial distrust of Americans, it became customary to avoid integration, thus rendering Italians “repulsive to Americans” (Smith 337), who held individualism and American values highly. The roots of the Sicilian

Thus, as quickly as the Black Hand emerged in several neighborhoods in New York City, it disappeared around the turn of the century, allowing for La Cosa Nostra to rise (Lombardo 107). As soon as the Prohibition era began, the crime tolerant atmosphere gave gangs an opportunity to sell highly coveted illegal alcohol, particularly by Al Capone's family, the Chicago Mob, who often resorted to bloody measures to protect themselves. Therefore, through monopoly over the alcohol industry, the mafia became highly involved in the United States economy. The mob’s official downfall was in 1963, when mobster Joe Valanchi betrayed his oath and revealed mafia secrets to Congress. In 1970, Congressional action was finally taken with the Racketeer Influence Corruption and Organizations Act, which made it easier to prosecute mobsters (Dickie

New Orleans residents blamed the influx of foreigners for the increase in criminal activity, subjecting Italians to discrimination. David Hennessey, renowned civil servant and police chief of New Orleans, was mysteriously shot on October 15, 1890. While it’s implicit existence was often credited for much of the minor criminal activity within Italian neighborhoods, the Hennessey case granted the mafia a spotlight in the media. Unfortunately, as Hennessey’s death had no witnesses and very little evidence, not a single gangter was convicted for the murder, despite the Black Hand’s involvement. (Laurino 32-3). Although the community was aware that the mob was responsible for Hennessey’s murder, they remained unified in their protection of the mafia. Under the mayor’s commandment to “arrest every Italian” (34), several men were jailed and tried for the murder, but once the jury found them all innocent, the appalled judge ordered that they perish in jail. Once again, thousands of people protested this institutionalized racism, and felt themselves to be transformational for the corrupt system (35). The Hennessey case was an early indicator of the Italian mindset of insularity, secrecy, and distrust of Americans. Moreover, it illustrated the general mindset of immigrants in America, who struggled to