Black Brothers, Inc.: The Violent Rise and Fall of Philadelphia's Black Mafia

by Sean Patrick Griffin

The Black Mafia is one of the bloodiest crime syndicates in US history. Known in its legitimate guise as Black Brothers, Inc., it emerged in the 1960s as a rabble of street toughs in the Philadelphia ghetto and grew into a ruthless, disciplined organization based on terror. Its ferocious crew of gunmen, led by the fearsome Sam Christian, held regular meetings, appointed board members, executives and enforcers, and controlled drug dealing, loan sharking, armed robbery and extortion.

Author Sean Griffin, an ex-Philly cop turned university professor, reveals for the first time the the gang's close ties with the influential Nation of Islam and its rivalry with the Italian Mafia. He tells how the Black Mafia carried out more than 40 killings, including the horrific massacre of seven people on one awful night, and uncovers how they exploited prominent lawyers and civil rights leaders to extend their malevolent influence. Jail terms eventually shattered their strength, only for the crack-selling Junior Black Mafia to emerge in their wake.

Based on scores of interviews, wiretaps and secret FBI files, Black Brothers, Inc., is the most detailed account ever of an African-American organized crime mob, and a landmark investigation into the modern urban underworld.

REVIEWS

"A richly detailed narrative of the murderous history of the city's first African-American crime syndicate."
KITTY CAPARELLA, PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS

"A great, sprawling epic."
PHILADELPHIA CITY PAPER

"Searing, unrelenting and ruthlessley precise."
HENRY SCHIPPER, PRODUCER, AMERICAN GANGSTER TV SERIES

"A gripping story."
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, History

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2005

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very difficult book to read because it contains some pretty graffic descriptions of crimes committed during the absolute worst time in Philly history. The city was under the rein of a shamelessly corrupt and racist administration, and to be black at that time was to be considered a largely second class citizen. We were on the very cusp of the MOVE fiasco, and the police department here largely regarded "black on black" crime as a non issue, or one that would simply kill itself off. Unfortunately, by the time they started to care about the so called "Black Mafia", they had sufficiently alienated anyone who would have testified against them, and terrified most of the city's African American population to the point where no one trusted the cops. Reading this really makes me sad in a way, because you can see very clearly the beginnings of the issues that still riddle my city today, and how far we have to go to repair them.

[Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

The brutality and horrific crimes carried out by this organization displays the dark underbelly of how individuals will assault their own community in the lure of gaining money and fame.

[Kelly Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I loved this book and read it back in 2004-2005 they were selling them on book stands in North Philly on Broad and Erie. The book kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat. I truly loved learning about my area SP in the 60-70 I was born in the 80’s. A lot of it was was approved by family members who knew the individuals and the things that were going on durning that era. Other things were told to me that wasn’t in the book about some of these people.

What I don’t like about the current book is the Audible version . Sorry but y’all should have gotten a brotha to tell the story since it is about us. The narrator has no soul or inflection in his voice. It just sounds down right horrible and this is coming from someone who listens to audible books all the time and have over 50 titles. A lot of them I listen to multiple times if the narration is good. Sorry but the narration of this book was horrible I was going to purchase it along with the kindle version but I just can’t spend my money or something this bad. Thank God for samples

[1nas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so horrific,maybe because my family knows some of these cats. These men have done some crazy things;yes but it was all for the love of money and respect, and i can respect that only because the italian mafia did the same things, and have been doing it for decades.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand, an essential document about a woefully underknown era in Philly, in which a violent group of men did nearly everything in the least intelligent (e.g., they used Roberts Rules of Order for conspiracy meetings, complete with minutes), most brutal way, largely by devastating and extorting minority communities; on the occasions in which there were insufficient returns, they skipped conversations, and went straight to murdering whole families (including children).

On the other hand, a little more chronological rigor really would have helped. It is nearly impossible to know exactly when some of the events occurred unless you are also taking notes, because the narrative tends to race forward and back in nearly arbitrary ways.

Note: the last hundred pages are epilogue and appendixes, so keep that in mind when gauging length.

[Stephen Carnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not that well written. It covers a variety of interesting topics but in a very boring manner.

A lot of insignificant details are added, often spanning paragraphs, and then there are two or three sentences about what actually happened.

The narrative frequently jumps from topic to unrelated topic with no transition.

The author uses a lot of big words but then makes frequent grammatical and syntax errors.

There are also multiple factual errors (e.g., a person was executed with a ".9mm bullet;" "double-o buckshot").

I'm currently in my second attempt to read this book and just don't have any desire to finish it. I will finish it because I've suffered through 60% of it twice now and to get it to count into my finished books for Goodreads but will not read it again.

[Phdrseuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the title say "The Rise And Fall of Philadelphia Black Mafia. A generation that began in 1968 until the 1980s. I am surprised at what I already knew/read/heard about and what I learned. Many of the murders are kinda the same with a little difference but seem to pertain to the same reasons ..... MONEY and power!!!! A lot of violence took place. I got tired of that part but still found it interesting to read. I remember hearing a lot about it in the news and had an idea of what was going on but WOW turned out more than I thought even though I already had an idea about it.

[eugenia benn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

This book was amazing.It held my interest from the first to the last chapter. Even the notes were interesting.I am from Philadelphia and a lot of the people mentioned I can remember reading about in the daily news. I will be sure to tell others about this book.

[Nicholas Gettel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable book, highly suggested to anyone who’s interested in the nefarious nature of the Nation of Islam in Philadelphia. A web of corruption, violence, and deceit that still entangles the city to this day.

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story of the rise of the Black mafia in Philadelphia, Pa..

[Angela Graves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting info but the writing was boring. It took me a year to read this when I can normally read a good book in 2 days!

[ChrisAntko92 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Griff Daddy continues to be the goat

[Massi]

Not by suprise Author Sean Patrick Griffin, a criminal justice professor and a former Philadelphia police officer has written Black Brothers Inc. .Sean Griffin is known for writing informational text such as Gaming the Game , and Superbad . Black Brothers Inc. is 327 pages of riveting informational text published in 2005. Black Brothers Inc. is perfect for readers interested in the mafia.
Griffin got access to informant logs, witness statements, witretaps and secret FBI flies in order to write detailed accounts of an African-American organized crime mob, and a landmark of investigation into the Philadelphia Black Mafia crime syndicates. Griffin gives factual evidence and detail of bloody crime scenes to get his readers a visual of what Philadelphia was like. In each chapter is a mini background of members apart of the Black Mafia and how each of them connect in some way. “flourishing in the Philadelphia underworld as small bands of criminals who were slowly making connections that would assist each others’ conspiracies pg. 21”1
I love this book but it is a very difficult book to read because it contains lots of details and different mini stories. I do recommended for readers 16 and above.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has way too much information for me to remember. But it's also a fascinating history of the city I'm now living in and know very little about, in terms of people and places, and how it's developed over time. I also just love a good mob story, and what these guys did is a little unbelievable.

[Amar Pai · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wonder if Frank Matthews is still alive... biggest drug kingpin you never heard of. That's the thing, you figure the best ones have to be the ones you haven't heard of. If you heard of them it means they got caught

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good account when the bloody days of the Mob were coming to an end.

[Rayna Hartley]

Facinating

[Marie Antionette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Good read!

[Rochelle Culbreath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I am mentioned in this book. I love it. But love all things Sean Patrick Griffin.