Black Mafia

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Black Mafia

The Black Mafia, also known as the Philadelphia Black Mafia (PBM) or the Muslim Mob, was an African-American crime group based in Philadelphia. It formed in the late 1960s (around 1968–1969) under Samuel Christian (who later adopted the name Suleiman Bey). The group grew in the 1970s and early 1980s, expanding its influence into the Philadelphia area and nearby parts of South Jersey (Atlantic City and Camden), as well as Wilmington and Chester.

What they did and who they were
- They controlled drug trafficking (especially heroin), gambling, extortion, loansharking, numbers running, burglary, and other crimes. They also engaged in prostitution, money laundering, armed robbery, and even murders.
- Many members were connected to the Nation of Islam, giving the group the nickname “the Muslim Mafia.”
- The Black Mafia used intimidation and secrecy to stay powerful, making it hard for police to prosecute them.

Notable crimes and impact
- They were linked to more than 40 murders and many other crimes.
- Notable incidents include the 1969 murder of co-founder Nathaniel Williams, the 1971 DuBrow Furniture Store robbery, the 1972 shooting of Tyrone Palmer at Club Harlem, and the 1973 Hanafi Muslim massacre (seven people killed).
- The group ran formal meetings, used fronts like nonprofits, and kept a strict hierarchy with oaths and secrecy.

Decline and the rise of the Junior Black Mafia
- The original Black Mafia faded by 1984. In 1985, members formed the Junior Black Mafia (JBM), or the Young Black Mafia, to organize Black youths and fight rival Jamaican drug networks in Philadelphia.
- The JBM grew to about 100 members and 300 associates, operating across several Philadelphia sections. They sought to model themselves on the original Black Mafia and on La Cosa Nostra, using violence and tight organization.
- The JBM worked with some Italian-American mafia connections and was involved in large-scale drug trafficking (estimates around 100–200 kilos of cocaine per month). They also fought rivals like the Shower Posse.
- By the early 1990s, the JBM had largely disbanded, and its leader Aaron Jones was on death row. The influence of the original Black Mafia remained a part of Philadelphia’s criminal history.