Guys back then were mainly bookies back then as well, the black racketeers operated in the numbers racket mostly. There's documented proofs that when the Italians came in power, like every other ethnic organization before them, if they had the power, they took over and spread their wings so to speak. This stuff is well documented, not just in NY, but in places like Chicago and other midwest cities, Italian organizations put those black groups out of business unless they orchestrated a deal which was beneficial to the both of them, then the black bookies and their crews were allowed to continue to operate, as long as they kicked up. And because the asking price was so high, a lot of guys tried to fight it out and lost.