Though some Mob families have used blacks as quasi-associates to run rackets for them in black neighborhoods, there is no way an African-American will ever become a made member of the Mafia. The prejudice against blacks runs very deep in the Mob.

Some white non-Italian associates have done very well in modern times. Jimmy (the Gent) Burke was the equivalent of a crew chief in the Lucchese family under Paul Vario. Hugh (Apples) McIntosh, although nominally Carmine Persico's bodyguard, was kind of a de facto consigliere. Paul Castellano had a partnership with some high-ranking Westies to run rackets in NYC's Hell's Kitchen.

Joe (Donny Brasco) Pistone reported, in his book, "The Way of the Wiseguy," that after he was revealed as an FBI agent about to be made in the Bonanno family, the NYC Mob went back to requiring that all made men be Italian on both sides. I guess his pals in the Bonannos are still keeping in touch with him, regularly bringing him news from inside the Mob, seeing as he was almost made.