I have been lately reading about gangs in American cities at the end of the XIX century and the very beginning of XX, especially about the gangs in Chinatowns in San Francisco and New York. I am asking myself: how much power ethnic minority gangsters had at that time when there was still much racism and slavery was abolished only not so long ago?
Just to make an example: if a very rich and powerful Chinese-American or African-American gangster at the end of the XIX century tried to extort money from a small-time "white" merchant (Anglo-Saxon maybe), what would have happened? If the judge at the trial wasn't a honest one, would he have followed "racial" sentiments and defended the small-time white merchant or would he have been influenced by money, power and connections of the ethnic gang boss? What was more important in society in the 1880-1890s: racism or power/money? What would have prevailed in your opinion?
Underworld in the 19th century
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Dwalin2014
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Pogo The Clown
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Re: Underworld in the 19th century
It wouldn't have happened. Any Chinese gang would have been confined to its encalve as would its victims. Same with any ****### gangs that may have existed.
Pogo
Pogo
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Angelo Santino
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Re: Underworld in the 19th century
There were Chinese gangsters, one Triad in the 10's or 20's (I'm recalling from 10 years ago) who went by the name Charlie Boston. In the future, I'd like to tackle Chinese oc but it's a language barrier I'd have to overcome. But in SF and NY, Chinese OC has been around for nearly 100 years. Whether it's a continuing enterprise or surges of crime I really don't know. I've never looked into them but they do deserve a historical invest..Pogo The Clown wrote:It wouldn't have happened. Any Chinese gang would have been confined to its encalve as would its victims. Same with any ****### gangs that may have existed.
Pogo
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Dwalin2014
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Re: Underworld in the 19th century
There are at least 2 books about early Chinese gangs:
San Francisco
http://www.amazon.com/Hatchet-Men-Story ... atchet+men
New York
http://www.amazon.com/Organizing-Crime- ... atown+1910
Would be interesting if there was one for Boston, too. I read the gang wars there were quite heated and concluded with the trial of one of the biggest bosses (somebody nicknamed Warry Charles), but there are only some mentions in old articles, no detailed book. I checked the "Gangsters of Boston" book by George Hassett that covers the general history of Boston organized crime (one of the few Boston books focused on something else than Whitey Bulger), but the chapter on the Chinese tongs is too short, no details.
San Francisco
http://www.amazon.com/Hatchet-Men-Story ... atchet+men
New York
http://www.amazon.com/Organizing-Crime- ... atown+1910
Would be interesting if there was one for Boston, too. I read the gang wars there were quite heated and concluded with the trial of one of the biggest bosses (somebody nicknamed Warry Charles), but there are only some mentions in old articles, no detailed book. I checked the "Gangsters of Boston" book by George Hassett that covers the general history of Boston organized crime (one of the few Boston books focused on something else than Whitey Bulger), but the chapter on the Chinese tongs is too short, no details.