Oh, I think it angered Micael plenty, especially Kay and her "Sicilian Thing" remark, showing what she really thought of his ethnicity. I think that Michael never showed anger, period. He would never respond to any insult, just like Vito with Signor Roberto. Michael and Vito both found anger counterproductive, a lesson that Sonny should've learned.
I never looked at her comments as a racial slur. I don't think she had a problem with his ethnicty. She had a problem with the family business and actually put up with a lot.
I think she was repulsed by the way of life that Michael had originally condemned, but later embraced.
, Klydon.
Kay wasn't prejudiced against Sicilians. She may have had concerns about Michael's family, but Michael did his best in word and deed (as in joining the Marines against his father's wishes) to convince her he wanted no part of the family biz. She was obviously wary when Michael returned from Sicily and told her he was now in the family biz. But she let herself be persuaded that "my father's way of doing things is over," and that "the Corleone family will be completely legitimate in five years."
But by the time of Anthony's party, she saw that her illusion failed--that Michael's Mob business was (in the phrase used in old-time divorce cases based on adultery) "alienating his affection" from her. The final straw was the Tahoe machine gun attack, which could have killed her and the kids. So, when she hissed at Michael, in Washington, that "this S-s-s-s-icilan thing must end," she was really referring not to Michael's Sicilian ethnicity, or uttering a slur as did Moe Green, Woltz and Geary, but a denunciation of the Mafia's pull on Michael--as you put it so aptly, the way of life that Michael had originally condemned, but later embraced.
