Sometime in the fifties I remember seeing On the…
““Sometime in the fifties I remember seeing On the Waterfront in the movies with Mary and thinking that I’m at least as bad as that Marlon Brando character and that some day I’d like to get in union work. The Teamsters gave me good job security at Food Fair. They could only fire you if they caught you stealing. Let me put it another way, they could only fire you if they caught you stealing and they could prove it. • chapter eight • Russell Bufalino In 1957 the mob came out of the closet. It came out unwillingly, but out it came. Before 1957 reasonable men could differ over whether an organized network of gangsters existed in America. For years FBI director J. Edgar Hoover had assured America that no such organization existed, and he deployed the FBI’s greatest resources to investigate suspected Communists. But as a result of the publicity foisted on the mob in 1957, even Hoover came on board. The organization was dubbed “La Cosa Nostra,” meaning “this thing of ours,” a term heard on government wiretaps. Ironically,””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator reflects on his early perception of organized crime and the shift in public acknowledgment of the mob after 1957.
In simple terms: He realized the mob existed and became aware of its influence.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how media can change perception of hidden powers.
Themes
perception
organized crime
media influence
history
identity
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
historical
personal narrative
analytical
When to use this quote
- career choices
- union work
- law enforcement
- media consumption
- historical research
Key Concepts
Sociology
crime studies
media studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media shape our view of crime?
- What responsibilities come with newfound awareness?
A Different Perspective
The anecdote may romanticize criminal life, overlooking its harms.