In the 1960s, on the streets of New York City, a message was delivered as a street rap to many of the youth. Today, the message, " Lessons of the Five Percent" has spread to people numbering in the tens of thousands. The lessons gained popularity among many African-American males, particularly in urban, poor neighborhoods. With the spread of the lessons embraced by a number of charismatic
. R&B/hip-hop music artists, such as Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, Common, Nas and Wu-Tang and more, many songs and album covers contain the " Five Percent Nation" doctrine.It is believed that the major part of the population of " Five Percenters" is located on the East Coast, which is also considered the birthplace of rap and hip-hop music. Analysts observe that cities with the highest significant percent of African Americans have the most " Five Percenters" or Five Percent Nation. Among those cities are: New York, Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, New Haven, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and more. Some international connections appear to exist, as well.Analysts describe " Lessons of the Five Percent" as a system of teaching that is an offshoot of " Nation of Islam" (NOI). NOI is characterized as a religious movement, institution or nation of people. The main teaching is demonstrated as Islam and ethnic pride. It is reported that the two organizations, although similar, have principles that vary.Apparently, a noted Five Percenter Clarence 13X (1928-1969) is the originator of the " Lessons of the Five Percent." The lessons have several components, based on the mathematics of percentages, distributing 100 percent. He teaching claimed that: eighty-five of all people have no self-knowledge or sense of real truth; ten percent of the people have some knowledge and control the eighty-five percent; and the final five percent of the people think as he did, having a mission to educate the eighty-five percent group using the Lessons of the Five Percent.More information on the Lessons of the Five Percent is posted online.More reference links: http://www.thenationofislam.org/supremewisdom.html http://www.blackapologetics.com/supremealpha.html
