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

by Sean Patrick Griffin

Updated Edition, October 2007   “A gripping story. . . . Griffin richly documents the Black Mafia’s organization, outreach and over-the-top badness.”— Philadelphia Inquirer “Griffin’s reporting on the Black Mafia and its interaction with law enforcement, the Nation of Islam and the Italian mob is fascinating.”— Philadelphia Weekly “A confident chronicle of Philly’s Black Mafia, the decades-long collaboration among drug dealers, Muslim clerics and local politicians.”— Philadelphia Magazine “A richly detailed narrative of the murderous history of the city’s first African-American crime syndicate.”— Philadelphia Daily News “A great, sprawling epic.”—Duane Swierczynski, editor-in-chief, Philadelphia City Paper “If you’re a crime buff, a history lover, or if you just want something fascinating to read, it’s a book you can’t refuse.”—Terri Schlichenmeyer, syndicated reviewer and host of www.BookWormSez.com “I couldn’t put this book down.”—Keith Murphy, award-winning broadcaster and host of “The Urban Journal” on XM Radio’s The Power “Sean Patrick Griffin has given us a really extensive look into the Black Mafia . . . and has produced one of best pieces of research on the underworld . . . that I have ever seen.”—Elmer Smith, “The Exchange,” 1340AM WHAT “The book is incredible . . . amazing stuff.”—Dom Giordano, radio host, 1210AM WPHT “Sean Patrick Griffin, in surreal detail, lays out the twist and turns, the political and religious associations . . . a guaranteed chilling read.”— The Melting Pot   “Searing, unrelenting and ruthlessly precise, a nose-in-the-bloodstains account of the violence that splattered black Philadelphia in the late 60s and early 70s.”—Henry Schipper, producer of “Philly Black Mafia” in the “American Gangster” TV series The Black Mafia is one of the bloodiest crime syndicates in modern US history. From its roots in Philadelphia’s ghettos in the 1960’s, it grew from a rabble of street toughs to a disciplined, ruthless organization based on fear and intimidation. Known in its “legitimate” guise as Black Brothers Inc, it held regular meetings, appointed investigators, treasurers and enforcers, and controlled drug dealing, loan-sharking, numbers rackets, armed robbery and extortion. Its ferocious crew of gunmen was led by Sam Christian, the most feared man on Philly’s streets. They developed close ties with the influential Nation of Islam and soon were executing rivals, extorting bookies connected to the city’s powerful Cosa Nostra crew, and cowing local gangs. Police say the Black Mafia was responsible for over forty killings, the most chilling being the massacre of two adults and five children in a feud between rival religious factions. Despite the arrests that followed, they continued their rampage, exploiting their ties to prominent lawyers and civil rights leaders. Convictions and sentences eventually shattered their strength—only for the crack-dealing Junior Black Mafia to emerge in their wake. Author Sean Griffin , a former Philadelphia police officer turned university professor, conducted scores of interviews and gained access to informant logs, witness statements, wiretaps and secret FBI files to make Black Brothers Inc. the most detailed account ever of an African American organized crime mob, and a landmark investigation into the modern urban underworld.  

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, History

328 pages, Paperback

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.