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Sequence of Protocol
In the mid-1960's and early 1970s, some of the most dangerous and ruthless young black men from the brutal streets of Philadelphia formed an alliance within the Nation of Islam's Mosque number 12. Believing wholeheartedly in the teachings of Wlijah Muhammad and his vision and Self-sufficiency, they saw themselves as pioneers of a new black nation.
248 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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August 4, 2017very good book
August 16, 2014
Growing up in Philadelphia there are many stories that have been passed down from one generation to the next. Sometimes they become so sensationalized that they end up sounding like a Chuck Norris joke. These could be stories about Wilt Chamberlain and his athleticism, The Frank Rizzo Police Force, Dr. J flying through the air, Sad Eye doing whatever he wanted to do on the playground, The JBM run and how many millions they made, and the ruthlessness of the Philadelphia Black Mafia.
I've previously read Black Brothers Inc as well as seen the American Gangster documentary on BET. I have heard how evil and ruthless the media makes the brothers in the PBM seem. Not that some of their crimes weren't deplorable but one thing rarely discussed is the conditions which led to the organization existing and taking the turn they did. Although this book was written as a work of fiction, I learned a lot about what led to the organization and the conditions which made this possible. People always want to talk about the negative aspects that are a part of the daily experience when living in the inner city but never want to address what leads to the problems. That's because most people are afraid of who they will offend if they start to have those conversations (#ILLuminati). In the words of the community organizer Nino Brown "Let's kick the ballistics here. Ain't No Uzis made in Harlem". This in no way excuses some of the acts made and allegedly made by the organization but it puts them in proper context.
The one thing that amazed me about this book and the author John W Griffin is how he was able to tell this story with so much detail considering he has been incarcerated for over 40 years. His ability to tell a story is amazing. It was difficult to put this book down once I started reading. I will definitely look for more of his work in the future.
Philadelphia has so much history and it's bigger than Ben Franklin and William Penn. There are so many stories that are just being told and have yet to be told.
I've previously read Black Brothers Inc as well as seen the American Gangster documentary on BET. I have heard how evil and ruthless the media makes the brothers in the PBM seem. Not that some of their crimes weren't deplorable but one thing rarely discussed is the conditions which led to the organization existing and taking the turn they did. Although this book was written as a work of fiction, I learned a lot about what led to the organization and the conditions which made this possible. People always want to talk about the negative aspects that are a part of the daily experience when living in the inner city but never want to address what leads to the problems. That's because most people are afraid of who they will offend if they start to have those conversations (#ILLuminati). In the words of the community organizer Nino Brown "Let's kick the ballistics here. Ain't No Uzis made in Harlem". This in no way excuses some of the acts made and allegedly made by the organization but it puts them in proper context.
The one thing that amazed me about this book and the author John W Griffin is how he was able to tell this story with so much detail considering he has been incarcerated for over 40 years. His ability to tell a story is amazing. It was difficult to put this book down once I started reading. I will definitely look for more of his work in the future.
Philadelphia has so much history and it's bigger than Ben Franklin and William Penn. There are so many stories that are just being told and have yet to be told.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews