Black Mafia
| Founded by | Samuel Christian |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Point Breeze, Philadelphia |
| Years active | Late 1960s to early 1980s before being split into fractions, reformed in mid 80's as Junior Black Mafia |
| Territory | African American neighborhoods in South Philadelphia such as Point Breeze, Grays Ferry; neighborhoods in West Philadelphia, Southwest Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, Northwest Philadelphia, and Northeast Philadelphia; Chester, Pennsylvania; turf in South Jersey, including Camden and Atlantic City |
| Ethnicity | African American, mostly African-American Muslims and Nation of Islam members. |
| Criminal activities | Drug trafficking, extortion, murder, armed robbery, burglary, illegal gambling, numbers racket, prostitution |
| Allies |
Philadelphia crime family Warlocks Motorcycle Club The Council Nation of Islam and associated gangs 20th and Carpenter Gang |
| Rivals | Various local street gangs and rival drug dealers, 20th and Carpenter Gang, Frank Matthews, Jamaican gangs |
The Black Mafia, also known as the Muslim Mafia, Muslim Mob, Philidephia Black Mafia, or PBM is a Philadelphia-based African-American organized crime syndicate. The organization began as a small criminal collective, known for holding up neighborhood crap games and dealing in the illegal drug business, but at its height of operation until about 1975, it managed to consolidate power and control a large portion of criminal activity in various African-American neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley, and South Jersey, including Atlantic City. In addition to drug trafficking, burglary, and armed robbery, the Black Mafia was also engaged in traditional organized crime activities such as extortion, racketeering, number running, illegal gambling, and prostitution.
Allegedly formed in September 1968 by Samuel Christian, who later adopted the name Suleiman Bey under the Nation of Islam, the Black Mafia was heavily involved in a large part of drug trafficking in Philadelphia during the 1970s, with heroin being the most trafficked drug. Christian, a former Black Panther with an extensive arrest record, was an imposing man: 5'10' tall and described as a "thick-necked, powerfully-built, 215-pound bully." Additional founding members included Ronald Harvey, Henry Dabney, Richard "Pork Chops" James, Donald "Donnie" Day, Clyde "Apples" Ross, Robert "Bop Daddy" Fairbanks, Craig "Heist" Jones, Walter Hudgins, Robert "Nudie" Mims amongst others. Nearly all of the original members eventually became Nation of Islam members or converted to Islam, giving the organization the nickname of "the Muslim Mafia" or "the Muslim Mob."
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