Live and via Zoom, 7:00 pm (EDT) Saturday, October 18, 2025:
What do we know about the history of the mafia in the US? What CAN we know about that history? Our speaker Dr. Karla Mallette shares insights into the history of the mafia. Based on her research into the mafia in Detroit, she’ll focus on a notorious period– the bloody summer of 1930– exploring some of the differences between mafia myths and reality. Going deep into the details is the only way to correct the historical record and understand how the mafia took root in the US during Prohibition – and how it continued to thrive until ethnic competitors threatened its business model in the 1970s.
Dr. Karla Mallette is author of three books on medieval Sicilian, Italian, and Mediterranean history, including Lives of the Great Languages: Arabic and Latin in the Medieval Mediterranean (University of Chicago Press, 2022), which won the Modern Language Association’s award for the best book in comparative literary studies. She has also published numerous articles on medieval and early modern history. Dr. Malette received a Ph.D. from the Centre for Medieval Studies, at the University of Toronto, in 1998. She has taught at the American University of Beirut and at Miami University of Ohio, and has been teaching at the University of Michigan since 2009. At Michigan, she has directed the Center for European Studies and the Global Islamic StudiesCenter and was Chair of the Department of Middle East Studies from 2020 until 2025. Since 2015, she has taught a course on the mafia in Sicily, the US, and Detroit.
Live Presentation
If you are able to attend the live presentation, you have the opportunity to mingle with your fellow Mensans and guests at our usual location:
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075
Doors open at 6:30 pm (EDT). The program begins at 7:00 pm (EDT).
Ticket prices
Members 13+ years old: $5 or buy a strip of 4 tickets for $15.
Guests 13+ years old: $7
Members and guests 12 & under: Free
Exact change is appreciated!
Following the presentation, please join us for dinner at:
Buddy’s Pizza
31646 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 38334
Virtual Presentation (Zoom)
If you prefer to to attend virtually, pre-register:
- Click tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-Gathering
- Choose “October 18, 2025 6:30 pm” from the drop-down box
- Fill in your name and email address
- Click the “Register” button
The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT) for mingling. The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).
There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising costs, your donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated.
- Click PayPal.com
- Log in (or sign up)
- Click the “Send” button
- Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@webmaster
- Click the “Next” button
- Enter payment amount ($5 is recommended, but feel free to send any amount)
- Fill “What’s this for” with “SEMM Zoom Presentations”
- Click the “Next” button
- Select your payment method
- Click “Send”
- Bask in our appreciation