The Black Mafia
*The Black Mafia is affirmed on December 23, 1968. It was a Black Philadelphia-based organized crime syndicate.
Also known as the Philadelphia Black Mafia (PBM), Black Muslim Mafia, and Muslim Mob, it began as a small criminal group known for holding up neighborhood crap games and dealing in illegal drugs. From its height of operation in the early 1970s until about the early 1980s, it consolidated power and controlled criminal activity in Black neighborhoods. Their locations included the Delaware Valley, South Jersey (especially Atlantic City and Camden), Chester, and Wilmington.
In addition to drug trafficking, burglary, and armed robbery, the Black Mafia was also engaged in political corruption, extortion, racketeering, prostitution, loansharking, number running, and other illegal gambling rackets. Samuel Christian, a former Black Panther with an extensive arrest record, allegedly formed it. 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.
Many 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." Throughout their control, the Black Mafia was responsible for over 40 murders and countless other crimes. Each founder had extensive arrest records, with most cases involving violence. However, law enforcement officials had difficulties prosecuting members because witnesses rarely cooperate, fearing retaliation, and cases were often dropped. This legal institution continued its criminal activities and allowed its reputation of being "untouchable" to flourish, thus enhancing its influence on the street.
The earliest documented act committed by the Black Mafia was the April 19, 1969, murder of one of the group's founders, Nathaniel "Rock and Roll" Williams. The Black Mafia ceased to exist in the 1980s before being split into factions and reformed in 1986 as the Junior Black Mafia.
