The King of Mulberry Street

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains a discussion of religious discrimination, racism, and child abuse.

Dom knows that the Gaetano follows him but only so far. On Sunday, Dom wakes to church bells, which remind him of Napoli. He hurries to the wharf to find that the Bolivia is empty. Rushing up the plank, he offers to work on the ship, but when a man calls a policeman over, Dom runs away. 

In the Five Points neighborhood, Gaetano is waiting for him and insists that Dom accompany him to church. Despite his reluctance, Dom follows and asks why Gaetano does not leave the neighborhood. The older boy warns him that Polish and Jewish people are dangerous. He proclaims that loyalty to Italians is most important and advises Dom not to go beyond Five Points. Dom argues and shares the little English he has learned. Gaetano worries that the younger boy mocks him and insists that although other groups get better jobs because they speak English, Italians are the smartest and the best for staying true to themselves.

Soon they arrive at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Dom questions why they go in the back door; it is because only Irish parishioners are allowed inside the church, with the basement reserved for Italian Catholics.