Philadelphia's Black Mafia: A Social and Political History / Edition 1

by S.P. Griffin

Overview

Philadelphia's 'Black Mafia' could be used as primary reading in deviance and organized crime courses. Academicians in the fields of criminology, sociology, history, political science and African-American Studies will find the book compelling and important. This book provides the first sociological analysis to date of Philadelphia's infamous "Black Mafia" which has organized crime (with varying degrees of success) in predominantly African-American sections of the city dating back to the late 1960's.

Philadelphia's 'Black Mafia':

-is a first step in developing both data and sophisticated theoretical propositions germane to the ongoing study of organized crime;

-uses primary source documents, including confidential law enforcement files, court transcripts and interviews;

-explores the group's activities in detail, depicting some of the most notorious crimes in Philadelphia's history;

-thoroughly examines the organization of the Black Mafia and the group's alliances, conspiracies and conflicts;

-challenges many of the current historical and theoretical assumptions regarding organized crime.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402014215
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	07/31/2003
Series:	Studies of Organized Crime , #2
Edition description:	2003
Pages:	214
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

Table of Contents

Social History 1968–1974.- 1968–1972: The Origins of the Black Mafia.- 1973–1974: Murder and Infamy.- 1968–1974: Social Movements, Social Systems and the Black Mafia.- The Politics of Ignorance and the ART of Exploitation.- Research Methodology.- Social History, 1975–2002.- 1975–1984: Philadelphia’s Black Mafia on the Wane.- 1985–2002: Old Heads, Old Habits.- Criminology and the History of African-American Organized Crime.- Discussion: Contemporary Academic Perspectives on the Black Mafia and African-American Organized Crime.- Conclusions.

What People are Saying About This

Frank Bovenkerk

The book is carefully researched, and the theoretical interpretation on black criminal organizations that exploit race and religion is fascinating. Philadelphia's 'Black Mafia' stands in a firm tradition (Humber S. Nelli, Alan A. Block) in the social history of organized crime.

James Nicholson

Griffin's research is mind-boggling, in the best sense. He has rendered Philadelphia and the United States a valuable historical document.

Editorial Reviews

"Griffin's research is mind-boggling, in the best sense. He has rendered Philadelphia and the United States a valuable historical document."

(James Nicholson, former investigative reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer)

"...an important contribution to the study of organized crime for two reasons. It removes a white spot on the map with respect to African-American organized crime, and at the same time it adds significantly to our knowledge of the overall crime picture in Philadelphia from the late 1960s through the mid 1980s."

(Klaus von Lampe, European Consortium for Political Research)

Philadelphia's 'Black Mafia' provides the first comprehensive analysis to date of Philadelphia's infamous "Black Mafia" which has organized crime (with varying degrees of success) in predominantly African-American sections of the city dating back to the late 1960's. Philadelphia's 'Black Mafia': uses primary source documents, including confidential law enforcement files, court transcripts and interviews; explores the group's activities in detail, depicting some of the most notorious crimes in Philadelphia's history; thoroughly examines the organization of the Black Mafia and the group's alliances, conspiracies and conflicts; and challenges many of the current historical and theoretical assumptions regarding organized crime.

- Written by a former Philadelphia police officer.

- Based on primary source documents, including thousands of confidential law enforcement files, court transcripts, and interviews.

- Explores the "Black Mafia's" activities in detail, depicting some of the most notorious crimes in Philadelphia's history.

From the Publisher

Philadelphia's 'Black Mafia' is fascinating. I couldn't put it down. It is complete and on target. Great book. — Tyree Johnson

Westside Weekly

A deeply researched book...that combines gritty street reporting with extensive scholarly research. Griffin's reporting on the Black Mafia and its interaction with law enforcement, the Nation of Islam and the Italian mob is fascinating, as much for the book's attention to detail as for the group's over-the-top brutality. — Jim Whitaker

Phildelphia Weekly