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Is the stereotype about Italian gangsters still true? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

28 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I was watching House M.D. and it showed two Italian brothers who were gangsters and involved in illegal activity. Like a crime family, Godfather type.

So, I know where the stereotype originates from. Italians came from Italy to the shores of America as migrants in the last century and were able to make a life of their own, but a small sliver (I think) of the community did involve themselves in not so legal activities. I thought it was the thing of the past that Italians were disproportionately involved in Criminal activities and I had though they got mixed in the American melting pot and probably are not disproportionately involved in crimes anymore. So, is the stereotype of Italian gangsters still true to this day (I know probably to a lesser degree?)

I must say I am not white/American/Italian or anyone who has anything to do with these groups. I have never seen an Italian in real life and I don't hold any prejudices against or for them.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (3 children)

It's less that the stereotype isn't true and more that it applies to everybody. American stereotypes are widely based on racist enforcement of laws. Obviously there are italian crime families, but there are white crime families like the Sacklers that do far worse shit, but we don't stereotype white people as criminal masterminds. Italians are considered white in America now though, so they have less stereotypes attached to them.

If America was less racist, you wouldn't hear about country of origin in crime. I've had people of all races sell me cocaine out of the back of the sketchy restaurant.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

I've had people of all races sell me cocaine out of the back of the sketchy restaurant.

This is the post-racial utopia I fight for

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

but we don’t stereotype white people as criminal masterminds.

Unless they steal from, or ruin the lives of other rich people, a la Bernie Madoff. Then they're definitely masterminds who should bare full responsibility immediately.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I don't know anything about white crime families and what they have done. But, I am pretty sure there are differences between these families which make Italian crime orgs more visible than white crime families. One of them of c is their country of origin and other differences like languages, food, etc.

I am pretty sure Italians were disproportionately involved in criming than native americans even in 1940. Crime per capita probably was more which is one of the greater reasons they became popular. Again, the fear of foreigners and differences also have to do with this.

If America was less racist, you wouldn’t hear about country of origin in crime

it's not racist to recognize patterns and these are not false patterns the human brain is perceiving (which it does do very often)

If a people from a certain country or race are doing well or poorly in america, it's not racist to notice it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Why are you gonna ask if you're gonna argue when someone tells you the answer? You said you're not American or Italian and don't know about it. Why are you arguing using information you said you know is wrong?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

I know enough about American politics to spot it