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The hegemonic narrative and the social construction of deviance: the case of the Black Hand

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Abstract

This essay examines Black Hand crime in the city of Chicago from 1892 to 1931. The Black Hand was a crude method of crime in which Italian immigrants and others were extorted for money. This research argues that much of what we know about Black Hand crime is a media construction. The method of analysis used to conduct this investigation involved the content analysis of 280 newspaper accounts of Black Hand crime. This essay also examines the institutional legacy of the Black Hand phenomenon and argues that the inappropriate linking of Black Hand crime to the Sicilian Mafia led to the development of the alien conspiracy theory, forever linking organized crime in American society to the Italian immigrant. This essay concludes that the media play an important role in defining the societal construction of crime. The findings also support the social constructionist argument that definitions of deviance are subjectively determined.

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Notes

  1. Books reviewed regarding the Mafia in Italy:

    • Albini, J. (1971). The American Mafia. New York: Appleton Century Crofts.

    • Arlacchi, P. (1986). Mafia Business. London: Verso.

    • Banfield, E. (1958). The Moral Basis of a Backward Society. Glencoe: The Free Press.

    • Barzini, L. (1964). The Italians. New York: Athenaeum.

    • Behan, T. (1996). The Camorra. New York: Routledge.

    • Blok, A. (1998). The Mafia of a Sicilian Village 1860–1960. Prospect Hts: Waveland Press.

    • Catannzaro, R. (1992). Men of Respect. New York: The Free Press.

    • Finley, M., D. Smith, and C. Duggan, (1987). A History of Sicily. New York: Viking Press.

    • Heckethorn, C. (1965). The Secret Societies of all Ages and Countries. New York: University Books.

    • Hess, H. (1998). Mafia and Mafiosi New York: New York University Press.

    • Train, A. (1912). Courts, Criminals, and the Camorra. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.

  2. Chicago Daily Tribune Shotgun Man newspaper articles reviewed:

    • 1910

      • Jan 6—Ben Senene 60 years old shot while in his bed 500 Oak street.

      • Jan 27—Phillipi Pemovario 35 stabbed 406 North Peoria street.

      • Feb 7—Joe Loverde 26 shot while in his home 1117 Milton street.

      • Mar 7—Carmelo Crapia 37 found with throat cut and knife sticking in neck in a rear room of his store 1101 Larrabee street.

      • Apr 24—Vincenzo Conetzara 38 shot while in his saloon 913 Gault court.

      • Apr 26—Gartano Disolvo 26 shot twice and stabbed twice while in front of his home 1108 Gault court.

      • May 1—John Landandi 31 shot while in front of his home 1075 Vernon Park place.

      • Jun 5—Phillipi Catalano 30 shot sixteenth and State street.

      • Jun 29—Tony Griffa 36 shot 904 Townsend street.

      • Jun 29—Dominick Lomano 9 months old killed in his mother’s arms by stray bullet intended for Griffa. Suspected man escaped.

      • Jun 29—Leonardo Belleliva 47 shot 853 Gault court.

      • Aug 15-Joseph Gelino 34 shot while in his home 905 Aberdeen street suspected man arrested, tried, and acquitted for lack of evidence.

      • Aug 21—Dominico Dimeas 40 stabbed four times 807 Sedgwick street quarrel forced by man who escaped.

      • Aug 21—Amilio Faliano 27 shot 713 Ewing street in same manner.

      • Aug 28—James Rinella 22 years shot while at Polk and Jefferson in same manner.

      • Sept 4—Peter Gambino 48 shot 534 DeKoven same manner.

      • Sept13—Phillippi Fartaloni 36 shot 836 Gault court.

      • Sept 25—Tony Armond 35 beaten to death at 4636 South Paulina street.

      • Sept27—Sam Faticota 54 stabbed 575 Seber Street stabbed in altercation with man whose name he refused to divulge.

      • Oct 2—Dario Brizzolari 35 beaten to death while passing between Forty-first street and Forty-second avenue.

      • Nov 1—Pasquale Quercha 43 shot at 929 South May street in altercation with man who was arrested and acquitted for lack of evidence.

      • Nov27—Paul Monnina 23 shot 1230 Penn street.

      • Nov27—Charles Saglions 26 same manner same place no arrests.

      • Dec 4—Alfanso Testo 43 stabbed Mather and Jefferson streets.

      • Dec5—John Kamps 30 stabbed 1524 Milwaukee avenue.

    • 1911

      • Jan19—Giuseppi Abita 24 shot 1031 South Paulina street.

      • Jan31—Carmelo Tumminia 40 shot Elm and Sedgwick streets.

      • Feb 3—Pasquale Laventura 22 shot 942 Hope street.

      • Feb17—Vincenzio Lubie 40 shot 501 Oak street.

      • Feb20—Vito Cappitelli 33 shot in provoked altercation at Washington and Union streets, murderer escaped.

      • Mar 9—Tony Demas 40 shot in altercation at 265 Alexander street, no arrests.

      • Mar13—Pasquale Marcadnarno shot 807 West Taylor street.

      • Mar14—Antonio Dugo shot 500 West Oak street by bullet which first passed through body of Phillipi Manascalco.

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  1. Department of Criminal Justice, Loyola University, Chicago, 111 E. Pearson Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Robert M. Lombardo

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  1. Robert M. Lombardo
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Correspondence to Robert M. Lombardo.

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Lombardo, R.M. The hegemonic narrative and the social construction of deviance: the case of the Black Hand. Trends Organ Crim 13, 263–282 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-010-9094-9

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