NCJ Number
15265
Date Published
1974
Length
381 pages
Annotation
DESCRIBES THE TAKEOVER OF CRIME OPERATIONS BY BLACK AND PUERTO RICAN NETWORKS THAT ARE REPLACING THE ITALIAN FAMILIES WHOSE SYNDICATES ONCE STRETCHED UNCHALLENGED.
Abstract
'WE'RE MOVING OUT AND THE BLACKS ARE MOVING IN, 'SAID A LEADER OF ONE ITALIAN CRIME FAMILY. 'I GUESS IT'S THEIR TURN NOW...' BLACK MAFIA IS A BOOK ABOUT THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW KIND OF BLACK POWER - THE TAKEOVER OF CRIME OPERATIONS BY BLACK AND PUERTO RICAN CRIME ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SYSTEMATICALLY REPLACING THE ITALIAN FAMILIES WHOSE SYNDICATES ONCE STRETCHED UNCHALLENGED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THROUGH THE USE OF PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION AND PAID INFORMANTS, THE AUTHOR HAS GAINED A FIRST HAND OBSERVATION OF THIS ETHNIC SUCCESSION TAKING PLACE. THE FIRST SECTION OF THE BOOK DESCRIBES BLACK CRIME ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CENTRAL HARLEM AREA OF NEW YORK CITY - A PIMP AND HIS PROSTITUTES, A BAND OF THIEVES WHICH STEALS GOODS 'DOWNTOWN' AND THEN SELLS THEM IN HARLEM, AND A RING OF DOPE PUSHERS. THE AUTHOR NEXT DESCRIBES THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH SERVES TO SHAPE AND ORGANIZE THE COMING ERA OF BLACK AND HISPANIC CONTROL. SPECIAL CASES UNCOVERED IN THE RESEARCH ARE PRESENTED IN THE THIRD SECTION AND INCLUDE A SPANISH-SPEAKING NETWORK IN WHICH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OPERATING OUT OF THREE AREAS ARE HELD TOGETHER BY THE BONDS OF KINSHIP AND CHILDHOOD FRIENDSHIP. THE FINAL SECTION OFFERS CONCLUSIONS THAT LEAD BOTH TO A DIFFERENT DEFINITION OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN AMERICAN SOCIETY AND TO SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CONTROL IT. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE A NOTE ON THE RESEARCH METHODS USED IN THE STUDY, AND NETWORK CHARTS AND CASTS OF CHARACTERS FOR EACH OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS DESCRIBED. (SNI ABSTRACT)