Mafia

organized crime, the underworld. Not all Italian criminals are members of the Mafia. And in reference to non-Italian crime "Mafia" is a misrepresentation and an ethnic slur, but even to use it "in reference to Italian criminals ... implies that organized crime was begun by Italians and/or Italian Americans, when, in fact, organized crime was thriving in the United States long before our grandparents arrived here—although even the phrase 'organized crime' conjures up images of Italian-Americans for bigots" (Rose Romano).