Beyond The Black Hand

(Beyond The Black Hand)

The mafia life has been glamorized over the years. From The Sopranos to The Godfather saga, the life of organized crime would have a certain appeal. Beyond the illegality and the fact that most of the time, Wiseguys end up in prison or dead. But to be "made," to be a part of a crew, that can be lucrative at times, there is certainly an attraction. However, before there were recognized "families" that came into their own with the advent of Prohibition, extortion rackets were a fact of life for many Italian and Sicilian immigrants in New York City slums, by "members" of what had been called the Black Hand. These were the earliest "bosses," Joe Masseria and Salvatore Marzano as examples. They were the first heads of Organized Crime until they in turn were assassinated by the younger generation of mobsters like "Lucky" Luciano, among others.

In the crime classic, The Godfather, Part II, Robert De Nero played a younger of Vito Corleone, and how he tried to make his version of the American dream. The Black Hand had a presence in Vito's neighborhood with Don Fanucci, running his own extortion scheme. In time, young Vito dispatched Fanucci and removed as Corleone, along with "capo regimes" led by "Fat" Clemenza and Salvadore Tesio. The neighborhood became Vito's neighborhood and that is about the time that Vito Corleone took the title "Godfather."]

Robert De Niro won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in the 1975 Academy Awards. Today, he is a vocal proponent for President Biden's re-election and then went on a rant of the dangers of another Trump term. It is like the Black Hand is returning with Masseria, Maranzano, and even Fanucci are rising from the grave. That being said, while jury deliberations are on going, Judge Merchan has allowed so much latitude to the panel that it would be difficult to imagine where the jury could find some reason to convict the former President. If that is not the ultimate outcome, than what was the point of the whole process ?

The verdict is not in doubt but the jury has to be seen as being deliberative. It will not a few day affair where they announce their decision. They will ask questions and request testimony be made available. For his part, Juan Merchan has said he would be instructing the jury on "elements of the Law." Which is strange because the "law," such as it is, was not much of a factor in this case.

And what will Bobby De Niro be saying after the guilty verdict is read ? He is thinking that if Trump makes back to the White House, he would probably stay. Trump, however, is no FDR. And Robert De Niro is no Vito Corleone.