How does the Mafia (i.e. The Godfather trilogy) differ from street gangs 2010?

Mafiosos are soldiers, part of a family. They are Italian, and they need to be 100% Italian(not just Sicilian) to be made. In the mafia their is a boss, consigliere, capos etc. You need permission to "whack" people in your own, or other families from the boss himself.

just check out the wiki for the mafia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafia

street gangs are not organized, completely different. no honor, no respect, no integrity

also if you liked the Godfather I suggest:

The Godfather Part II

Goodfellas

Donnie Brasco

Mean Streets

Casino

Carlito's Way

Scarface

The Sopranos (TV show, but best TV show of all time)

Mafia is a FAMILY of organized crime.

Does that answer your question ?

Edit - This I'm not completely sure about because I read it a while ago. But your whole family has to be from Sicily(Sicilian heritage). Like in the movies Goodfellas(if your familiar with it), when Henry was talking about how Tommy was made. He said you had to have family there so they could trace your roots all the way to Italy.

Mob is more secretive.. Mafia isn't. It's not a secret about the Mafia and who is in it. If you watch the news you'll know a crime boss who was in charge of a mafia in Montreal passed away..