Fin vs History W.O.P. | The Mafia (Part 2)
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Dec 11, 2025 Delve into the Mafia's audacious comeback during Prohibition-era America. Discover the chaotic Italian immigration experience and the notorious extortion tactics of the Black Hand. The hosts recount harrowing stories of anti-Italian violence and how Prohibition fueled crime. From gang nicknames to the rise of Lucky Luciano, learn how organized crime evolved into narcotics and gambling. Their journey includes Mafia alliances and wartime cooperation, revealing a darker, complex history intertwined with American culture.
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Black Hand Arrival And New Orleans Backlash
- Giuseppe Esposito fled Sicily to New Orleans and began extorting Italian shopkeepers using Black Hand tactics.
- The New Orleans backlash culminated in a 1891 mob lynching that decimated the local Italian community and temporarily quelled mafia activity.
Prohibition Fueled Mafia Growth
- Prohibition created an enormous illegal market that massively expanded organised crime's power and profits.
- The law's cultural disconnect made bootlegging widely popular and corrupted enforcement.
Mafia Diversified Into Unions And Construction
- The Mafia expanded beyond bootlegging into unions, construction, gambling and later narcotics to diversify income and influence.
- Infiltrating trade unions gave organised crime leverage over transport and construction, amplifying power.