Originally posted by The Italian Stallionette:
Perhaps in the "modern" American mafia, being Italian on the father's side only was acceptable, but back in the "day" I always thought that one had to be full Italian. 
Of course, I won't pretend to know every mafia figure, but who wasn't a full Italian made member during the peak period of the mafia???? 
TIS This is where you are right. In the past, many years ago, a man had to be 100% Italian to be made, so that they could trace back all your family to the old country, back to Italy.
For a while now though they have made an exception that only your Father had to be Italian on the grounds of "you are what your Father is."
