Social Construction of Reality

The reality of C's neighborhood centers around a social construction of respect and loyalty. C is taught from a young age to view the mobsters with fearful respect. Once C becomes Sonny's protege, his respect grows to reverence. The reality of the neighborhood centers around respecting those with the power but not necessarily those a person is related to. C is also taught the unwritten loyalty between members of the neighborhood. He felt proud that he kept silent in front of the police officer rather than rat out Sonny. C grows to have more loyalty to Sonny than to his own fathers. The unwritten laws of the neighborhood are those set down by the mob.
On a darker note, C is taught to be racist from a young age. He is afraid of this friends seeing him with Jane, because she is black. His father disapproves of interracial relationships. Although C tries to be open minded, the racism of his society seeps into his subconscious. He calls Jane's brother the N word even though the day before he protected the brother from getting beat up.