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Secrets Hollywood Gets Wrong About the Mafia
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Jun 20, 2025
🔥 FORGET EVERYTHING you know about the Mafia! In this explosive deep dive, we're ripping away Hollywood's glamorous facade to reveal the SHOCKING truth about daily life in organized crime. From secret initiation rituals to the REAL power structure, we're exposing what movies got completely WRONG! 🎬 Discover: • The TRUTH about becoming "made" • How the REAL hierarchy works (it's NOT what you think!) • Why Hollywood's "meteoric rise" stories are pure FANTASY • The TERRIFYING reality of Mafia codes and consequences • How modern organized crime has EVOLVED ⚠️ WARNING: This isn't your typical Hollywood story. We're diving into the raw, unfiltered reality of one of the world's most secretive organizations. Secrets Hollywood Gets Wrong About the Mafia #Mafia #OrganizedCrime #TrueCrime #History #Documentary #RealLife #Investigation #Crime #MafiaLife #DeepDive 🔔 Don't forget to SMASH that like button, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to join our growing family of truth-seekers! 📚 DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes only. We do not promote or glorify criminal activities. --~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Like and subscribe will be greatly appreciated! 🙏
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forget everything you've seen in Hollywood those insane car chases the
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totally over-the-top assassinations and kingpins ruling huge empires from velvet
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rooms what if I told you the most shocking thing about the real mafia
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isn't the crazy violence but how normal parts of it can be or that their power
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isn't about massive flashy fights but about super quiet calculated control
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well guess what we're about to blow the lid off it movies have painted this
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insane blood soaked picture of the mafia right the Godfather Good Fellas The
0:43
Sopranos they give us this vision of organized crime that's somehow terrifying and
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super appealing we see these lives lived at a million miles an hour where one
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wrong look means you're done and every conversation is like a secret code but
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what if that's just a tiny piece of the puzzle totally twisted by Hollywood
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today we're pulling back the curtain we're going to peel away all the fiction to show you the often unglamorous
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surprisingly routine and mindblowingly complex reality of daily life inside a
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mafia family we'll look at the secret routines the true power structures and
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the shockingly business-like core of organized crime that movies almost never
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show you we'll compare the crazy myths with the researched realities uncovering
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a world that's probably more intricate and honestly more insidious than the
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movies even hint at so what does an average day really look like for someone
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in this super secret world and how insanely different is their actual life
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from the giant characters we've all seen on screen let's find out section one the
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Hollywood illusion dons shootouts and romanticized honor when you think mafia
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boss what pops into your head probably someone like Veto Corleone dishing out
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life lessons and death sentences like it's nothing or maybe Tony Soprano
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juggling family drama with brutal business hollywood has given us a whole
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army of these guys super powerful dudes living in huge mansions always
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surrounded by loyal henchmen and getting into explosive confrontations every
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single day movie scenes are packed with intense sitdowns in dark restaurants car
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bombs going off in broad daylight and machine guns blazing in the streets
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these portrayals totally crank up the drama the power struggles even within
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families and this weirdly romantic twisted code of honor just think of
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those iconic scenes the baptism in the Godfather cutting between a sacred
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ceremony and a symphony of vicious murders or Henry Hills superfast rise in
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good fellas a total whirlwind of cash violence and wise guy friendship these
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films as amazing as they are have completely shaped how we see mafia life
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they show a world where violence is the only way to talk loyalty is everything
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until it's spectacularly broken and life is a constant highstakes gamble the
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appeal is obvious it's a world of power danger and a kind of dark glamour but
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this movie universe with all its awesome drama often just skips over the boring stuff the paperwork and the actual grind
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of keeping a criminal empire running the constant low-level stress of not getting
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caught the snoozefest of managing illegal businesses the internal politics
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that are more about quiet moves than public executions these are the bits
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that don't make the Hollywood cut hollywood loves a huge spectacle the
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reality of organized crime while definitely having violence is also built
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on something way less thrilling routine the myth paints the mafia as this all
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powerful almost magical force with its hands in everything its leaders like
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mythical figures the reality is more often a network of people navigating a
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dangerous and illegal career with all the complexities and yes even the boring
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parts that any job even an illegal one has the movies give us the highlights
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the explosions the betrayals we're here to show you everything else section two
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deconstructing the family beyond bloodlines one of the biggest Hollywood myths is
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the whole idea of a mafia family movies make them out to be these giant
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biological clans where everyone's related and takes a blood oath from
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birth think of the Corleons where sons have to follow their fathers into the
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life and blood ties decide who's loyal and who's a traitor now while actual
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relatives are definitely an organized crime the structure of a mafia family or
5:48
Borgata as they call it isn't mainly about who your cousins are in reality a
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mafia family is a specific criminal crew and you have to earn your way in it's a
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process of hanging around proving you're useful and then bam a formal induction
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you don't have to be the boss's nephew to join his crime family things like loyalty trust being reliable and often
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being good at making money or yeah violence are the real tickets in not
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your last name while it's common to see sons brothers or cousins involved making
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little family groups inside the bigger crew the family itself is more like a
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metaphor for a bunch of criminals bound by shared business and a super strict
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code the movie focus on blood ties is a great storytelling trick no doubt it
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makes everything more intense betrayals feel more personal and creates relatable
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even if twisted family drama but it totally oversimplifies how they actually
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recruit people and how the organization works wannabe members called associates
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might work with a family for years proving their loyalty and usefulness
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before they're even thought about for full membership becoming a made man this
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whole process is super deliberate and crazy selective and that idea that these
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families are super tight-knit loving groups just in a criminal way that's
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another layer of Hollywood fantasy sure loyalty and friendship exist but
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these are organizations all about profit and power internal rivalries suspicion
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and betrayal are just as common if not more common than total family devotion
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the family is a business a dangerous one and its members are first and foremost
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partners in crime they aren't always loving relatives having Sunday dinner
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unless that dinner also has some strategic purpose understanding this
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difference is huge for seeing past the Hollywood hype and into how these groups
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really operate section three the real hierarchy more
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corporation than clan okay so we've busted the myth of the blood only family
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hollywood also gives us a pretty simple version of mafia leadership we see the
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all powerful Dawn maybe an underboss and a consiliary
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giving super wise advice while these roles are real the day-to-day stuff and
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the full structure look more like a secret corporation than some old school
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royal court the American mafia which members often call Kosanostra or our
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thing has a surprisingly clear organizational chart it's wild at the
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very top you've got the boss sometimes called the dawn he's the ultimate
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decider in his specific family his daily life isn't necessarily packed with the
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dramatic showdowns movies love instead a lot of his time could be spent settling
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arguments between members setting the big plans for the family's criminal businesses and most importantly getting
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his cut from all the illegal profits made by everyone below him his power
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isn't just about ordering hits it's in smart decisions keeping alliances strong
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and making sure the family stays profitable and safe below the boss is
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the underboss often a super close buddy and a really
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experienced member the underboss is second in command he's the one making
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sure the family's various crews and criminal activities run dayto-day if the
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boss is the CEO the underboss is the COO literally he might be getting ready to
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take over and if the boss is gone like in prison or dies he often steps in as
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the acting boss his days are probably filled with passing on orders gathering
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intel and making sure all the illegal stuff runs smoothly then there's the
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consiliary made famous by Robert Duval's Tom Hagen in The Godfather the consiliary is often
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shown as the wise super calm adviser sometimes even a lawyer or someone who
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isn't Italian the reality is a bit different the consiliary
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is a trusted adviser but almost always a senior respected Italian member of the
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family he's chosen for his massive experience and understanding of mafia
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traditions and politics he's a sounding board for the boss a peacemaker in
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internal fights and a voice of reason or strategy not really a general leading
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troops his power is more about influence than direct orders beneath this top crew
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are the Kapor regimes or capos these are the captains and each
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one leads a crew of soldiers and associates a capo is a pretty big earner
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and manager his daily life involves overseeing his crews specific rackets
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whether it's illegal gambling lone sharking extortion or sneaking into
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legitimate businesses he collects the earnings from his soldiers takes his
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share and passes the rest up the chain to the underboss or boss he's also
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responsible for discipline in his crew and for making sure orders from the top
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get done think of a capo as a mid-level manager in this criminal company under a
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ton of pressure to produce and keep control the soldiers or made men are the
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officially swornin members of the family they've taken the oath of amea silence
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and are a formal part of the organization their daily lives are spent
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actually doing the family's criminal activities running gambling spots
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collecting debts often through scary tactics or violence enforcing the
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family's control over territory or businesses and protecting the crew's
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operations they are the frontline workers of the mafia while movies might show them in
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constant shootouts a lot of their time is spent on the less glamorous
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day-to-day grind of their specific rackets finally there are the associates
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these guys aren't full members of the family but they work with and for them
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they can be from any ethnic background and are basically contractors or employees in the criminal enterprise
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an associate might be someone with a special skill like a bookie a thief or a
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dealer or someone hoping to eventually become a maid man they work under the
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family's protection and have to share their profits with their bosses their daily life is often pretty risky as they
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don't have the full protection and status of a soldier but they're still deep in the criminal world this whole
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hierarchy provides a clear chain of command make sure profits flow up and
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tries to keep the top bosses as far away from street level crime as possible it's
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a system built for efficiency and control way more organized and bureaucratic than the crazy
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free-for-alls sometimes shown on screen it's insane
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section four becoming made more than a handshake and a vow Hollywood often
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shows getting into the mafia in really dramatic sometimes almost chill ways a
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character does something super daring impresses a boss and boom they're in
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while being brave and a good earner are definitely valued the actual process of
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becoming a made man a fully initiated member of a Kosan Nostra family is a
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formal secret and incredibly huge ritual it's way more than just a handshake or
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saying you'll be loyal usually to even be considered for membership a candidate
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has to be of full Italian descent on their father's side though this rule has
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apparently been bent sometimes depending on the family and the era more
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importantly someone wanting to join usually starting as an associate has to
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prove himself over years this means showing unbreakable loyalty
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to the family being able to earn serious cash through illegal stuff and being
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willing to commit violence if the family needs it often you need one or more respected maid men to sponsor you just
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to be proposed for membership the candidate is watched super closely and
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vetted like crazy when it's time for the induction the ceremony itself is packed
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with tradition and symbolism all designed to bind the new member to the
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family for life while the exact details can vary stories from former members and
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law enforcement describe a ritual that often involves pricking a finger to draw
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blood this blood is then smeared on a card usually with a picture of a saint
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on it the card is set on fire and as it burns in the new member's hands he takes
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an oath this oath typically includes vows of absolute secrecy o murder the
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code of silence loyalty to the family above everything else including your
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actual family and God a promise never to betray other members and to obey the
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boss's orders no matter what the burning saint card that symbolizes what happens
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to a traitor you'll burn in hell like the saint if you break the oath can you
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believe that the phrase books are open means a family is accepting new members
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while books are closed means no new inductions are happening often because
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of internal fights heat from the cops or a decision by the commission the big
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governing body of mafia families becoming maid gives a person huge status
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and protection within the criminal underworld he's considered untouchable
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by rival criminals unless his own family or the commission says so any harm done
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to a made man has to be answered for often violently this formal induction
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means a lifelong commitment it's not a job you can just quit the consequences
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of breaking the oath especially a murder by talking to the cops are almost always
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a death sentence movies might show characters walking away from the life
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but in reality for a maid man there are usually only two ways out prison or the
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grave the seriousness of this commitment the solemn nature of the ritual and the
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lifelong implications are rarely captured fully by Hollywood's shortcuts
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it's a transformation that totally changes an individual's identity and
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allegiance within their world it's intense
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section five a day in the life the mundane over the menacing if you were to
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shadow a mid-level mafia soldier or even a cappo for a typical week and you only
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knew what Hollywood showed you you'd expect a highlight reel of super tense negotiations sudden betrayals and
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explosive violence the reality according to cops informants and researchers is
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often a surprising mix of criminal enterprise and well routine
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while the potential for violence is always there and the activities are definitely illegal a lot of the
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dayto-day is focused on the business of organized crime which can be shockingly
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ordinary a good chunk of a member's day revolves around managing and profiting
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from various rackets this isn't always edge-of-your seat stuff for example
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gambling operations this could mean checking in on illegal poker games
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sports betting rings or numbers rackets it means making sure collections happen
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debts are paid or chased down and the operation runs smoothly without
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attracting too much heat this is more about logistics and accounting illegal
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accounting obviously than constant confrontations boring right loan
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sharking shylocking is a huge earner a member
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might spend time meeting people who need loans at insane interest rates or
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overseeing the collection of these debts while the threat of violence is always behind this the initial meetings might
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seem deceptively business-like the drama often kicks in later if payments are
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missed extortion this could involve protecting local businesses which really means collecting
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regular payments so their places don't get vandalized or their owners harmed by
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the very people collecting the money this might look like regular though probably tense visits to shop owners not
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always the movie style smashing of storefronts sneaky infiltration of legitimate businesses
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many mafia families have historically gotten into or owned legit businesses
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like restaurants bars construction companies sanitation services or
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trucking companies a member's day might involve overseeing parts of these
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businesses using them for money laundering or getting no show jobs for
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associates this can look a lot like any other small business management just with a sinister
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purpose and illegal goals beyond these main activities a made man's day
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involves a lot of waiting talking and keeping up appearances there are endless
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meetings in social clubs cafes restaurants or parks to discuss business
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pass messages sort out minor fights or just to see and be seen reinforcing the
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network much like any organization with a hierarchy
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information flows up and down and this needs constant often low-key
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communication most mafia members especially these days actively try to lead lowprofile lives to
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avoid attracting law enforcement flashy displays of wealth like you often
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see in movies can be a huge problem bringing unwanted attention while some
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higher ranking members might enjoy luxuries many operate pretty cautiously
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living in ordinary neighborhoods and driving unremarkable cars the daily
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grind isn't about cinematic showdowns it's about making money keeping control
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over their rackets managing their crews and above all not getting caught the
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violence while it's a tool and a threat isn't typically a daily random thing
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it's usually a calculated move used to enforce discipline get rid of rivals or
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protect interests and even then often as a last resort because it brings heat the
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true daily life is a complex mix of crime business social maneuvering and a
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constant underlying tension wild section six the conciglier beyond the
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silver screen sage the role of the consiglier or counselor is one of the
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most iconic in mafia movie history mostly thanks to characters like Tom
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Hagen in The Godfather hollywood often shows the consiliary as the calm super smart strategist
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sometimes even a lawyer who isn't Italian standing a bit apart from the brutal violence offering wise advice to
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an often impulsive boss while the consiliary is a vital and respected
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position the movie version takes some crazy liberties with reality first off
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that idea of a non-Italian consiliary like the German Irish Tom Häen that's
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mostly a Hollywood invention in the actual structure of American Kosanostra
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families the consiliary is almost always a senior made member of Italian descent
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this is really important for keeping the organization super tight and making sure
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the boss's closest advisor is bound by the same codes traditions and oath of a
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matter as other initiated members trust and shared cultural understanding are
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critical at this level the real consiliary is less of an operational
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manager and more like a senior statesman within the family his job isn't usually
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to direct crews or get involved in the day-to-day running of rackets instead he
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serves as an impartial adviser to the boss and other senior members his daily
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interactions might involve mediating disputes a huge part of his job is to
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help resolve internal fights between members or crews he tries to stop these
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from blowing up into violence that could mess up the family or attract the cops
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he listens to complaints offers solutions and tries to find common ground
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strategic council the boss will often consult the consiliary on important
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policy decisions new ventures or dealings with other families the consiguary provides a trusted
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experienced perspective using his deep knowledge of mafia history traditions
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and personalities guardian of tradition he often acts as
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the keeper of the family's unwritten rules and customs making sure protocols are followed especially when it comes to
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internal discipline or relations between families super important
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a voice of reason while not always the case a good consiliary is often seen as
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a moderating influence someone who can speak honestly to the boss and offer a
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different viewpoint maybe warning against acting too crazy his power comes
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from respect experience and his relationship with the boss rather than direct command over soldiers he
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typically doesn't have his own crew like a capo does his days are more likely
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filled with quiet conversations listening and offering advice based on
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years often decades in the life he's not necessarily the kindly old
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gentleman from the movies he's a seasoned hardened mafioso who has
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survived and risen through the ranks because of his shrewdness and understanding of the tricky politics of
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the underworld the Hollywood version captures the advisor part but often misses the
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cultural requirements and the subtle yet critical nature of his influence within
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the family's power structure who knew section seven the myth of the meteoric
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rise insularity and the outsider hollywood stories love featuring main
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characters who through a mix of insane daring ruthlessness and a bit of luck
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climb the mafia ranks super fast sometimes these are total outsiders who
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somehow catch the eye of a powerful figure and get fasttracked to positions
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of influence think of Michael Corleó even though he was a son he was an outsider to the
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family business before circumstances and his own chilling abilities pushed him to
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the top while this makes for amazing drama the reality of getting ahead in
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the deeply insular world of Lacosa Nostra is usually a much slower tougher
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climb and for true outsiders it's practically impossible the American
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Mafia is well a super suspicious and weary organization
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trust is the absolute foundation of its operations and that trust is usually
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earned over many years of proven loyalty discretion and the ability to make money
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an outsider someone without existing connections or a verifiable history in
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their circles would be looked at with extreme caution the idea that such a
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person could just walk in commit a few headline grabbing acts and quickly gain
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power is pure cinematic fantasy more likely an unconnected outsider trying to
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muscle into mafia affairs would be ignored warned off or if they persisted
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and were seen as a threat eliminated gone even for those who are accepted as
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associates the path to becoming a made man is often long and involves a sort of
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probation they have to consistently prove their worth their loyalty and their ability to
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keep quiet moving up beyond soldier to capo and then to higher positions like
29:31
underboss is an even more complex game of internal politics alliances earning
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power and simply surviving it's not just about being tough it's about being smart
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reliable and respected or feared by the right people those rare times you hear
29:52
about a seemingly rapid rise they often have more to do with internal power
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vacuums created by arrests or deaths or an individual having an exceptionally
30:04
valuable skill or connection that the family desperately needs but even then
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they would have likely been known and vetted for some time the mafia doesn't typically hand over
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significant responsibility or power to unproven people no way the rags to
30:23
riches or outsider to kingpin story is appealing because it taps into themes of
30:29
ambition and breaking barriers but the mafia's structure is actually designed
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to prevent that kind of instability it prioritizes stability control and
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keeping its established hierarchies intact new blood is brought in cautiously and
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advancement is usually a testament to years of navigating the treacherous
30:56
internal landscape of the family not some sudden explosive burst onto the
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scene the romantic idea of the gifted outsider conquering the underworld
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rarely matches the mafia's deep-seated preference for known quantities and established loyalties
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so different from the movies section 8 not one mob to rule them all
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fragmentation and the commission movies often show the mafia as this single
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giant nationwide or even international organization one shadowy group
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controlling all organized crime we see powerful dawn commanding huge
31:44
interconnected empires while there have been times of greater coordination and definitely widespread
31:51
influence the American mafia is actually more fragmented it's a collection of
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distinct families each operating with a good deal of independence within its own
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territory or area of influence mindblowing right in the United States
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the most well-known setup is the five families of New York City the Banano
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Columbbo Gambino Genevies and Lucasi families these were largely solidified
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way back in the early 1930s after a bloody power struggle known as the Castellamarzi war the winner Salvatore
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Marenzano initially declared himself Capo Ditutiapy
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boss of all bosses a title that suggested he was the supreme leader
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however this centralized model didn't last long and was quickly replaced by an
32:50
idea pushed by Charles Lucky Luchiano the commission the commission was set up
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as a governing body kind of like a board of directors it was made up of the
33:02
bosses of the most powerful families mainly the New York 5 but also included
33:08
influential bosses from other major cities like Chicago the purpose of the
33:14
commission wasn't to run the day-to-day business of each family but to mediate
33:20
disputes settle conflicts and arguments over territory between families to prevent
33:26
costly and attention-grabbing gang wars regulate relations
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set general rules of conduct and protocols for how families should interact with each other approve new
33:40
bosses in some cases the commission would need to approve a new boss in a
33:46
particular family especially if the succession was disputed sanction actions
33:53
authorize certain actions that might affect other families like the execution
33:59
of a maid man from another family scary stuff so while the commission provided a
34:06
way for cooperation and dispute resolution at the highest levels each
34:11
family remained largely independent in its internal affairs and criminal
34:17
businesses a boss in say the Gambino family wouldn't typically take orders from the
34:23
boss of the Genevese family about his own family's rackets unless it was something being decided by the
34:28
commission outside of New York and Chicago other cities also had their own mafia families
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varying in size and power sometimes they had ties to the larger families but
34:42
often they operated with a lot of local independence that idea of a single all powerful Mr
34:49
big controlling everything is a dramatic oversimplification
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the structure is more like a loose confederation of allied and sometimes
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rival criminal groups this fragmentation means that the daily life and
35:07
operational focus of a member in one family or city could be different from another depending on local rackets law
35:14
enforcement pressure and the particular leadership and traditions of their specific bulata
35:21
understanding this decentralized nature is pretty important if you want to move
35:26
beyond the movie myth of a single all powerful mafia it's crazy how it really
35:33
works section nine codes and consequences the
35:39
real stakes of a murder and loyalty mafia movies are packed with dramatic
35:45
betrayals and equally dramatic punishments concepts like honor loyalty and silence
35:54
are central themes while Hollywood often romanticizes these codes sometimes making them seem like a
36:01
twisted kind of chivalry the reality is that these rules are deadly serious
36:07
practical tools for the organization's survival and control breaking them has
36:13
severe and often final consequences this is no joke omear this is the famous code
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of silence at its heart Omea demands that members never cooperate with law enforcement or
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government authorities in any way this means not reporting crimes not
36:36
testifying in court even against rivals unless it's sanctioned by the bosses and
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definitely never informing on fellow members the penalty for violating Omea
36:47
for becoming a rat or an informant is almost always death this isn't just
36:53
about tradition it's a critical defense mechanism an organization whose
36:58
activities are entirely illegal can only survive if its members maintain absolute
37:05
secrecy the daily pressure to stick to is immense
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every conversation every interaction carries the weight of this code imagine
37:17
living like that loyalty loyalty in the mafia is directed upwards to the family
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and ultimately to the boss above all else this includes loyalty over one's
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own biological family if a conflict comes up at least in theory members are
37:36
expected to carry out orders without question even if those orders involve violence against someone they know or if
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it puts them at great personal risk this unwavering obedience is essential for
37:50
keeping discipline and the boss's authority of course this ideal of
37:56
loyalty is frequently tested by ambition greed and fear which leads to the
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internal conflicts and betrayals that movies love to show however the
38:08
expectation of absolute loyalty is a constant factor in a member's life
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discipline and punishment disobeying orders disrespecting superiors moving in
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on another member's rackets without permission harming a made man without sanction or worst of all cooperating
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with the authorities all of these carry severe penalties
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while movies might show elaborate almost theatrical executions real life mafia
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justice is often swift brutal and designed to send a clear message
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disappearances are common with victims never found the fear of such punishment
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is a powerful tool for keeping order within the ranks absolutely terrifying
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the honor often shown in films is less about a moral code and more about a set
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of rules designed for self-preservation and the smooth running of a criminal
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enterprise for instance there's often a rule against members getting involved
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with the wives of other made men not necessarily out of some moral high
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ground but because such affairs almost always lead to internal conflict and
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violence which is bad for business and attracts unwanted attention it's all
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about the business the daily life of a mafioso is lived under the shadow of
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these codes and their lethal consequences it's a world where trust is
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a rare and fragile thing and where a wrong word or a perceived slight can
39:51
have deadly results this constant underlying tension the need to always be
39:56
vigilant about one's own actions and the actions of others is a crucial part of
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their reality that goes far beyond the dramatic confrontations we see on screen
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the stakes are always incredibly high we're diving deep into a world few ever
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truly see if you're finding this look beyond the Hollywood hype and into the
40:20
gritty details of mafia life as fascinating as we are smash that
40:25
subscribe button and ring the bell for notifications we've got more layers to uncover and you
40:33
won't want to miss what's coming next as we find out more about their operations and how they've changed over time don't
40:41
go anywhere section 10 the legitimate facade blurring lines with legal
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business while Hollywood loves focusing on purely illegal stuff like gambling
40:53
drug trafficking and violent crime a huge part of real mafia operations often
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less exciting for the movies but crucial for long-term survival and profit is
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infiltrating and controlling legitimate businesses this isn't just about having
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a storefront as a meeting place it's about systematically exploiting legal
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parts of the economy this is insane for decades mafia families have woven their
41:25
way into all sorts of industries historically these included construction
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controlling unions dictating who got contracts often through bidrigging or
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intimidation and siphoning huge amounts of money from large building projects
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this allowed them to extort developers control labor and launder money like
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crazy waste management sanitation in some cities mafia families gained
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monopolies over garbage collection routes this let them inflate prices
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extort businesses and use the companies for other illegal purposes imagine the
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mafia taking out your trash restaurants bars and nightclubs
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these can be cash heavy businesses perfect for money laundering they also
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provide meeting places bases of operation and sources of legitimate
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looking income for members garment industry particularly in New
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York the mafia historically had strong influence in the garment district
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controlling trucking and unions and extorting manufacturers
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food distribution and vending machines control over parts of food supply chains
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or vending machine routes provided steady income streams and chances for
42:54
extortion they were everywhere the daily life of a mafio involved in these
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legitimate fronts might look quite different from a street level enforcer
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they might be busy with running the business overseeing operations dealing
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with suppliers managing employees some of whom might be totally legit others in
43:19
noshow jobs for associates getting paid for nothing labor racketeering
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manipulating union elections embezzling huge union funds or using union power to
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pressure businesses money laundering coming up with insane schemes to make
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illegally obtained money look like legitimate profit from the business this could involve faking invoices
43:46
overstating revenue or super complex financial transactions
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extortion through regulation using control over certain service industries
43:57
or unions to force other businesses to pay for services they might not need or
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at inflated prices these activities are often less openly violent than street
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crime but can be incredibly profitable and provide a cover of legitimacy they
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also offer chances to corrupt public officials or business leaders further
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embedding the mafia's influence the businessman Mafio might spend his
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days in an office dealing with paperwork or negotiating contracts all while
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serving the family's criminal agenda this double life the legitimate front
44:39
masking an illegal core is a hallmark of sophisticated organized crime it's a
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world where a friendly neighborhood business owner might also be a key
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player in a criminal empire this blending of the legal and illegal is
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complex and often far more insidious than straightforward street crime making
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it harder to detect and prosecute it's a side of mafia life that requires a
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different kind of cunning one that Hollywood with its love for obvious
45:14
action sometimes completely misses tim Section 11: The Shrinking Shadow:
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Evolution and Modern Challenges the golden age of the American mafia the
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one often shown in period films set from the 1930s to the 1970s has largely
45:35
passed while Lacosa Nostra definitely still exists and remains active its
45:41
power and influence have been significantly cut down by a ton of
45:46
factors this has forced them to change their daily operations and what they
45:52
focus on things are different now one of the biggest game changers was the
45:59
rakiteeer influenced and corrupt organizations actu
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passed in 1970 rico allowed prosecutors to target entire criminal enterprises rather than
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just individual crimes or criminals this meant that bosses could be held
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responsible for crimes committed by their underlings and it led to crazy long prison sentences for high ranking
46:25
members the RICO laws combined with more sophisticated surveillance techniques
46:31
and an increased willingness of maid members to break Omeai and become
46:36
government informants often to avoid long RICO sentences dealt severe blows
46:43
to many families the daily concern for a modern mafio is arguably even more
46:49
dominated by the fear of electronic surveillance and the potential for betrayal from within can you imagine the
46:57
stress changes in society and demographics have also played a huge
47:03
part the tight-knit insular Italian-American neighborhoods that once
47:08
served as prime recruiting grounds have become more assimilated and diverse the
47:14
traditional pool of potential members steeped in the old cultural norms has
47:20
shrunk younger generations might not feel the same deep-seated loyalty or
47:26
attraction to the life increased competition from other organized crime
47:31
groups has also challenged the mafia's dominance in certain rackets russian
47:37
mafia Eastern European groups Asian triads and various cartels have all
47:44
become major players in the American underworld they sometimes cooperate with
47:50
traditional Italian-American families but often they're competing against them
47:55
it's a whole new ball game in response to these pressures the daily activities
48:01
and focus of remaining mafia families have had to adapt lower profile
48:08
many have adopted even more cautious less flamboyant ways of operating to
48:14
avoid attracting law enforcement attention the days of highprofile bosses
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like John Goty who loved media attention are largely over new rackets
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while traditional rackets like gambling and lone sharking still exist some families have moved into newer areas
48:34
think cyber crime online gambling mortgage fraud and healthc care fraud
48:40
these might seem less hands-on but can be highly lucrative and harder to trace
48:47
super sneaky sophistication in money laundering with increased financial
48:53
scrutiny ways of laundering money have had to become more complex often
48:58
involving international transactions and sophisticated financial tools
49:04
smaller scale operations in some areas families may operate on a
49:10
smaller more localized scale than in their heyday day focusing on niches
49:16
where they can still exert some influence the daily life of a modern mafio is
49:23
likely marked by a greater degree of paranoia a more intense focus on evading
49:29
sophisticated law enforcement and the need to navigate a more complex and
49:35
competitive criminal landscape while the core ideas of loyalty however
49:41
compromised and earning money probably remain the environment is far more
49:47
challenging the shadow they cast may be shrinking but it would be a huge mistake
49:54
to underestimate their continued presence or their ability to adapt the
50:00
mafia today is less about obvious street dominance and more about finding new
50:06
ways to operate in the margins and shadows of the 21st century they're
50:12
still out there conclusion: Beyond the bullets and bromides the pull of the
50:19
mafia as Hollywood has made it is strong it's a world of stark choices incredible
50:25
showdowns and a certain dark romanticism but as we've journeyed beyond the silver
50:30
screen a more nuanced complex and often less sensational picture smashes into
50:37
view the real daily life within a mafia family is less about constant shootouts
50:44
and more about the persistent often boring business of crime it's a world
50:49
run by a strict almost corporate-like hierarchy where family ties are built on
50:56
criminal association and formal initiation not just blood getting in is
51:02
a long super vetted process not some quick reward for one brave act while
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violence is definitely a tool they use much of the day-to-day involves managing
51:13
rackets like gambling lone sharking and extortion or overseeing legitimate
51:19
businesses they've infiltrated activities that can be surprisingly routine even if there's always menace
51:25
underneath the consiliary is less a Hollywood wise man and more a seasoned
51:31
Italian-born internal adviser outsiders don't just waltz in and climb to power
51:38
the organization is deeply insular and it's not one single all powerful group
51:45
but a collection of families coordinated to some extent by a commission but
51:51
largely independent the codes of omea and loyalty aren't romantic ideals but brutal necessities
51:58
for survival with terrifying consequences for anyone who breaks them
52:04
and today this already risky existence is further complicated by sophisticated
52:10
law enforcement betrayals from inside and a changing criminal landscape that
52:15
forces them to adapt the truth of mafia life is a stark contrast to the
52:22
cinematic myth it's a world of calculated risk quiet maneuvering and
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the constant grinding effort to profit from illegal activities while trying not to get caught by peeling back the layers
52:35
of fiction we don't just debunk myths we get a clearer understanding of the
52:41
enduring and often disturbingly ordinary nature of organized crime it's a reality
52:48
far removed from the grand opera of Hollywood but in its own way just as
52:53
compelling and definitely more sobering if this journey into the real mafia
52:59
daily life has blown your mind please give this video a huge thumbs up don't
53:05
forget to subscribe and click the bell so you don't miss our future deep dives
53:11
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53:18
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53:23
below thanks for watching you legends