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$-Pércenters Called Hoodtams; Actions Blamed on Frustration By THEODORE JONES Concerned Harlem residents’ described the “Five Percenters” | yesterday as a small hoodlum; gang that championed a “nate? philosophy” against both whites; and Negroes. t ‘They said the group, which; was involved in several mug- gings and beatings last spring. was composed of misguided’ teen-agers who had “turned } heir frustrations in the black? ghetto into antisociety actions “f “They're ® pure growth of the slums." exclaimed a ci youth worker who has dealt! with members of the gang, “and. they're being influenced by; older and known subversive; men who are only too happy! to turn the community into chaos and turmoil” This influence, according to; socia} workers in the area, has* helped to create @ group of totally undisciplined | younr- sters, Who have No for parents or anyone else not taken with their way of think- ae. e ‘The Five Percenters were said to have been an outgrowth of” . mibtant, antiwhite ; group described as the Blood Brothers, which was linked by. the police in the summer of; 1963 to tourders of whites in Harlem. Gained Attention in May 3 ‘The younger group. which has been under constant police sur-) yeillance, gained public atten- tion last May when several youths led by a man who 4 scribed himself as Clarence 13: Smith. a former Bisck Muslim. attacked a Negro man on 2 Harlem street. ‘When Smith was arrested and police station and demanded his release. The next day they af peared again at Smith's hea: tae in Manhattan Criminal: Court and shouted “white man’s injustice’ and other black na- finalist slogans until they were ejected from the court- room. : __ Smith was charged with fe- lonious ‘assault, resisting arrest,- unlawful assembly and’ posses. sfon of marijuana. He was held” in $9,500 bail and is still in — paiva a e next pubHe incident, oc- eer yey with Sremxrrest of 10 youths who allegedly hurled ‘garbage can covers. rocks and bottles at two white policemen who had Them from molesting a Negro ‘woman. i linquents. Bisck Muslims Pradtices Both the police and Harlem community leaders describe the Five Percenters as & loosely jenit. group of youthe ranging jn age from 13 to 21. The group fs raid to follow many of the practices of the Black Muslii Although it {g pot affiliated y that sect. Estimates of the strength of the group run between 50 and 100 members. Youths who iden- tify with the group are said to operate in the Bedford-Stu sant area of Brooklyn as well as in Harlem. ’ ‘The Five Percenters derive their name from a philosophical delief that 85 per cent of the’ country’s Negro population 's| ignorant or “just cattle” and that 10 per cent are “Uncle} ‘Toms,” or subservient to whites. ‘The remaining 5 per cent, of) | which they are the self-chosen, eventually will lead the others out of “bondage.” “Many of these kids don't ‘mow what's going 0M," ex- plained one community leader who has worked closcly with’ the group in an attempt to change their direction. they identify with the power- Jessness of the Negro in the ghetto, and if you're not say- {ng how to end that, then you're not talking their languare.” ‘During the summer, both the police and community leaders Fret frequently with the youth to get their views and to see where they could Many were taken IARXOU-ACT summer pro- gram and given employment. Others refused jobs with the Harlem agency, declaring that they did not want “hapdout<.” fermination of the sum- ar {.CLOSULE 7 + + Belmont ‘sper Callahan Contad Felt Gale Rosen Sullivan Tavel Trotter Tele Room Holmes Gandy LINFORNAT OW CONTARED BY sesphss | 7-8 ¥ ans vy The Washington Post and —__— ‘Times Herald The Washington Datly News —_ The Evening Star ——____ New York Herald Tribune ——_—— New York Journal-American ——— New York Datly News ——____ New York Post ———____ The New York Tim 1 ‘The Baltimore Sun ——______ The Workes ——_—_______—— The New Leader ———_____— ‘The Wall Street Sourna) ——____- The National. Observer ————— People’s World Date Get 16 19