# Mafia Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 3, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-question/140216 "2002-12-03T14:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rivit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rivit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivit)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-question/140216/1 "2002-12-03T14:56:16Z")
I just finished reading a book called Gangland, about how the FBI brought down John Gotti. At one point in the book, the author mentions that one of the henchmen/hangers-on would never be “made” because his father was German (or of German descent). I know I have heard or read other places that in order to become “made” you had to be Italian. My question is: how Italian do you have to be? Full-blooded? 1/2 blooded? Is one drop of Italian blood good enough? Any help would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-question/140216/2 "2002-12-03T15:03:26Z")
Only from reading Wiseguy and seeing Goodfellas… they said that you had to 100% Italian “so that they can trace your family to the old country”. Wiseguy was written with Henry Hill so I’m pretty confident in saying that it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-question/140216/3 "2002-12-03T15:04:07Z")
In the book “Wiseguys” which was made into “Goodfellas” it says you have to be 100% italian. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-question/140216/4 "2002-12-03T15:18:35Z")
I recall reading (in another Mafia book- aren’t they great?) that originally you had to be 100% Sicilian to be “made”. When that got to be too limiting, they changed it to 100% Italian. Makes you wonder if there’s a grand Mafia commitee or something Goombah 1: "Ok, motion to increase membership benefits to all Italians. All in favor say ‘fuggedabodit’ " Chorus : “Fuggedabodit” Goombah 2: “Motion passes” ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-question/140216/5 "2002-12-03T15:33:09Z")
And the award for today’s funniest comment goes to… _opens golden envelope_ **jk1245** get up here and make a speech… ---
**Author:** ![mister\_me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mister\_me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_me)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-question/140216/6 "2002-12-03T20:25:25Z")
There are exceptions to every rule. The 100% Italian thing is not entirely true. There may be some ‘families’ that still work that way but for the most part that rule has been diluted by the length of time most mob ‘families’ have been operating in the U.S. For those that still operate with the ‘old world’ tradition, the rule is usually (still very few and far between exceptions) that to be a made-man you either have to be 100% Italian or the son of a made-man (carrying the Italian last name). Those not 100% Italian and born into the ‘family’ would still have to make ranks through soldier, captain, etc. Not carrying the last name would mean you would acheive nothing better than the ‘associate’ status. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-question/140216/7 "2002-12-03T21:16:46Z")
FWIW the novel _Wiseguy_ was written by Nicholas Pileggi _about_ Henry Hill.