NCJ Number
198964
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: Fall 2002 Pages: 66-74
Date Published
2002
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the practices of the Five Percent Nation, an organization based in New Jersey aimed at teaching young Blacks the correct ways of Islamic life.
Abstract
This information is based upon research conducted between September and December 1995. The Five Percenters routinely engage in gang-like behavior and other illegal activities. They fight, deal drugs, pool resources, and identify over territorial issues as a group -- all attributes of gangs. The group’s social character is more complex and should be viewed from a member perspective as strategies and ideologies of survival and resistance. Meetings of large groups of Black males between the ages of 17 and 25 consist of lessons and daily instructions. There are three basic convictions: (1) the world is a scientific and mathematical manifestation of Allah; (2) the universe was created by Allah, who was the original Black man; and (3) the grafted man has no morals or conscience. This dogma closely resembles that of the Nation of Islam. It is believed that the world is divided up into three social percentages: (1) the 85 percent or the uncivilized people; (2) the 10 percent or the rich, slave makers of the poor; and (3) the 5 percent or the civilized people, also Muslims and Muslims’ sons. Women could become members of the Five Percent Nation, but only as child-bearers. The woman’s most important role is to produce and teach children to continue in the Islamic tradition. The six rules for women are to not sell her physical composition for any payment, not use any form of birth control, not have emotional affects with anyone but her man, keep and obey rules given by her man, reflect the light of god, and practice reproductive hygiene. Other gangs have formed to oppose the Five Percenters, including the HBOs and the Cazzeeks. The Islamic codes of the Five Percent Nation offer a more radical and oppositional view of Blacks. Five Percenters embrace a new social identity and social reality that is more satisfying than any alternative formulations obtained from family, church, or in school. 10 references