Modernday Gangsters and Organized Crime

Pardon my ignorance, but can anybody enlighten me the difference between an organized crime and Modernday gangsters?

organized crime is alot bigger than common street gangs. Some of the interests of OC are gambling, prostitution, rackets, bribery, legitimate fronts, etc. street gangs are pretty much hoodlums.

Bugsy did not ask the difference between street gangs and organized crime.

Don Vercetti, read the thread again

Bugsy, you didn't express yourself clearly.
Your question is kind of confusing. You are asking what is the difference between modern day gangsters and organized crime. I mean you are asking what is the difference between some of today's gangsters and organized crime. Maybe you wanted to say organized crime groups???

or maybe I am confusing myself :rolleyes:

Gambino,

yes, I meant organized crime groups. thanks for bringing that up.

Don Vercetti,

but don't these Gangsters also do rackets like drugs, etc.? also, don't organized crime groups have hoodlums in their rosters as well?

Bugsy, let me try to answer by being literal:
Organized crime, by definition, is a common structure (like a "family") that brings together criminals in order to organize their criminal activities. A Mafia family is organized crime, but so is a Jamaican drug "posse," or a Chinese or Vietnamese gang that shakes down businesses in Asian neighborhoods, or the Russian "Mafia," etc.
A gangster, by definition, is a member of a gang. But by that definition, a gangster can be anyone ranging from a made man in a Mafia family, through an adolescent street-gang member who wears "colors" and spends his days with fellow punks, shoplifting, sniffing glue and fighting with other gangs. And, as you probably know, in African-American neighborhoods, a "gangsta" is someone with a "big reputation," whether or not he committed crimes or was violent.
As a practical matter, we tend to define a gangster as any reasonably big or high-profile criminal, whether or not he is a member of a criminal organization or a gang, or controls one. In The Godfather films, we'd probably call Moe Green and Hyman Roth "gangsters," even though they don't seem to be members of any formal organizations at the time we see them in the films.
BTW: In his book, "Underboss," Sammy the Bull Gravano contemptuously dismisses Paul Castellano, the Gambino Don he and Gotti whacked, as a "racketeer" because Castellano was interested only in the "white collar" area of the family (construction, wholesale meat, garment center rackets, etc.). Da Bull describes himself and Gotti as "gangsters," presumably because they got their hands dirty in "blue collar" crimes such as loan sharking, hijacking, gambling and dope-dealing; and because they committed crimes (including violent crimes) with their own hands.
Question: would you define Michael Corleone as a "racketeer" or a "gangster"?

Nice Turnbull. But let me clerify a little on African American 'gangsters' since I am one.

There is a heirachy in the streets that are stuctured the same as in a family. The gangmembers (The ones that wear colors and flash gang signs)are 'Enforcers'. They provide protection for Drug Dealers and Drug Spots and handle petty crimes such as car thefts for chop shops and boosting (Robbing homes for valuables to pawn). There is even an itiation before becoming a member. The next level are the 'Ballers'. You can be a legal or illegal Baller. Illegal Ballers control lower level dope men and reap a piece of profit from street schemes. Illegal Ballers fund Legal Ballers with startup money for legal ventures (ie, Record Companies, Resturants, Car Lots, etc) for a percentage of profit or part ownership. Next up are 'Gangsta's' or 'Thugs'. These are outlaws that challenge the laws of the streets, make their own rules, but respect the game (Never Snitch)and have risen past the Enforcers and Ballers to establish their own neighborhood sets or 'clicks'. Lastly are the OG's (Original Gangsters) These are the Don's or Bosses of the streets. They have earned their tattooed tears by serving some jail time, they have paid their dues by playing the role of a gangmember and a baller. They have sent bodies to the morgue. These OG's develop the connects with cocaine and heroin producers, build relationships with city police officials and enjoy the benefits of many soliers willing to die them and the luxury of buying homes and cars for cash. There are other positions and ranks in the streets, but these are the major players.

That was very interesting, Black Gotti! Thanks!

well put here G

Black Gotti thanks for sharing the info and giving us a 'peek inside'. I thought your post was the most interesting I've read

Thanks Family. Just glad I could share what I know and what I've been through.

Interestin.. thanks

I would perhaps define him as a "racketeer". Thanks, Turnbull.

That's a very interesting insight, Black Gotti. Thank you.