Anyone from the States (at least a larger urban area) immediately understood that Mouzone was a member of the NOI because of the suit, bowtie, and clean-cut appearance, nothing at all unrealistic about the character because of his appearance. Also, Cheese makes a comment during their first meeting about Mouzone being "in the Nation" and even jokes about whether he's selling bean pies, something that NOI members are known for. They sell individual-sized bean- or sweet-potato pies on the street and give out copies of their newspaper.
I worked in a Chicagoland hospital mid to late 80s. I met a few Nation of Islam guys there, visitors to an NoI patient. They were scary _because_ they were so calm and courteous. Even the neighborhood players shut up or faded when they were around.
@@Thestray187 it means they are calm under all pressure. They can’t be easily intimidated, manipulated, or bribed. You can only kill them and that carriers more consequences than prison. The Nation of Islam arent violent people but their friends and family who are further from the faith don’t have the same restrictions.
I remember when the city hired them to do security in my projects in Brooklyn late 80s. They where able to shut down the crack trade in the middle of the crack era. These brothers can reach in jail if needed.
@@Thestray187 Many people carry on, rage, weep, and cause trouble when they can't immediately see an emergency patient. These guys were rational, logical, and reassuring. Their presence chilled out others and frightened off thugs. Compared to our normal ER/Trauma visitors they were a breed apart.
Mouzone fits the Wire perfectly. If you don't grow up in areas in America with NOI then he will seem like a weird character. But Mouzone fit in perfectly.
I worked on the Wire for all seasons from the HBO end, but it was my earlier work on a film that shot in South Central L.A. had security from the Nation of Islam - Brother is dead-accurate for the guys I met.
Love your analysis, however Brother Mouzone is a real archetype. If you spend anytime in older East Coast cities like B More, NY, Philly, Detroit, Chicago, etc...you would be somewhat familiar with the Nation of Islam and the way they carry themselves.. that's why I think he was so real and innercity folk know bout them.😁 Love you channel! Never disappointed in your content.✊
I think you meant Northen cities. The NOI and FOI are very active in LA too. In fact, since the 90s and 2000s it's California where the NOI has the most influence still.
I respect what they've done historically or at least tried to do. I also see where Malcom X & the NOI leader of that time went their seperate ways. Although their presence is felt even in a room full of SWAT & NYPD OR PPD IN A POLICE BALL THEIR PRESENCE IS FELT & EVEN FEARED. BUT THEIR VERY INTELLIGENT & VERY POLITE. Even the hardest thugz step to the side. As for Mouzune himself he's definately quick on the Draw & well at home in the streets beit Baltimore or Philly, DC or Compton but he's more from a NYC "todays" setting. He might be a little older than what he looks. Not 30 not early 40's but closer to 50. He probably lived in NJ Newark area. Travelled to NYC often definately spent time in NJ prison took a train ride to NYC eventually did time here also. Never looked back. His education isnt school based but he is More than GED prepared. Grew tired of school setting but not, education. May had come across some students from a nearby John Dewey system of education where exams werent part of the curriculum but took up self study seriously. Well Read in The Classics aspects of education but not impressed by it. He's aware of the falsehoods of Historians like Will Durant where Africans were viewed as the lesser to the European by the Greeks & so eventually the Romans but in fact it was the European who were viewed by Greeks as difficult & barbaric. Understood early on that the street code is a matter of life & death & life in prisonment is the same as death. Doesn't honor the double crossing aspect of the thug or gangster & maybe if GOOD reason would consider it. Some might view him as 5% but he's understands his intellect works above that of the 5%. He trusts his handlers in NYC & Vice a versa as to why he's sent to Baltimore? He's trusted within the inner circles. His reputation to exact the right measure of violence is respected & expected.
This is partially true..the Africans have never been considered anything but non advanced, inferior..if Greeks thought anything about European countries was that they weren't as easy to plunder as African countries and slave traders
@@mitchelll3879 True but its also true that the Greeks viewed the Northern European as crude & under developed, but yeah made it hard to conquer & unforntunately easier to conquer the African the Greeks were an empire & had very lil interest in creating equals to their civilization the notion & interpretation of "Democracy" is still very much up for reinterpretation & application.
Next to Bubbles and Michael, He was one of my favorites. And if you know...you know....these type of men don't need a back story lol...but here it is, something broke them, they went through a spiritual war within themselves, they won and now they can break you effectively.....if they so choose. 🤣
You may have cultural blindness. I am from southern Connecticut and I have known brothers like Mouzon. Brothers with a quiet dangerousness. Smart, taciturn and decisive. A point of the wire is that no one is one thing they are a mixture with certain qualities holding more weight.
But that the thing about a great show. People from NY recognized that character as legit and i'm sure there are nuances that people from NY missed about life in Baltimore.
Remember the Assasin that killed Biggie was a brother from The Nation. I always thought his character was a homage to that. Apparently that's who runs NYC
Brotha Mouzone represents the NOI Street Soldiers that are never talked about. They are real and only move when giving orders. Farrakhan has a real Army.
For the creator of this channel, YOU have to watch The Corner!!! Same creators David Simon and others, same rooted cast members throughout The Wire series but this is RAWer shit!! Also Brother Mazones protégé who gets his news magazines is the most important character in the corner amd the wire.
From the moment I heard the name I figured brother mouzone to be a renegade member of the Nation of Islam of which I've known many. They believe in the teachings of a large Muhammad they just can't get away from their old ways completely. Brother moves on they think that because the drug game isn't going anywhere it's just a part of life he has to accept so he moves accordingly
This is a prime example of why someone from and entire different country shouldn’t be doing reviews on something they have no clue about lol brother mouzone is wayyy more common in the hood than any person from Europe
East coaster here and I love me some bean pies. Brother seemed actually very normal to me. FOI is well known and nothing comical about them. I’m betting the character is based off hit man responsible for the Chauncey Bailey murder in Oakland. Google it.
He's one of those Nation of Islam guys. The dickey bow and what have you is part of their uniform. He actually acts pretty standard for one of these guys. That's why there is a stark contrast between him and Batltimore. Baltimore is lost, Godless. Muzoun is not.
I noticed that a lot of people who discuss The Wire have a common description of Bro Mouzone as "cartoonish" and "fake". The "hood" mess with Mouzone because we know or know of guys like that.
As a black man from the NYC metro area I can attest that brother Mouzone is far from weird.....one would need exposure to the culture to understand his character, appearance and verbal cadence. His impact on the show is what one would expect....as soon as I saw him, I already knew he was a "professional cleaner"....a ronin (masterless samurai) who comes to perform a task effectively and efficiently, nothing more or less. No screaming, shouting or making a scene.....just get in, do what needs to be done and get out.....Stringer f*¢ked up by assuming his money and influence could usurp the "honor" embodied in Omar and Mouzone....once they saw past Stringer's facade, his days were numbered
Glad to see that some finally posted on this character. Good Research...! As a nerd for the Wire series, I’ve found myself defending the relevancy of Brother Mouzone In many forums. You mentioned the Philly Mafia which was Black Muslim influenced. Those were my original thoughts, then I looked more into it. With what I learned some time ago, I will do you one more for those that want to research further so that they can see that Brother was not some randomly made up character. I'm also surprised that David Simon didn't mention this as well, but here is my quote from another video on RU-vid-> “In March 1977, when David Simon was still in high school, Simon's father was one of a group of over 140 people held hostage (and later released) in Washington, D.C. by former national secretary of the Nation of Islam Hamaas Abdul Khaalis in the Hanafi Siege.”
Simon also lived in the streets of Baltimore on purpose to do his own research. He and Burns both had an admiration for many of the guys that they based the Wire characters off.
I had no idea he took any of those buildings hostage. Only that his family was killed. I vaguely remember it being discussed on American Gangster. Wonder why that basketball player wasn't canceled long ago, if not recently seeing as he was in cahoots with opposition to that man. And the drowning of the baby in a kitchen sink. Why and how this is removed from history and fake ones are created should but doesn't horrify many. If any at all.
Exactly! And don't overlook a lesser known Black Muslim splinter group, the New Jersey based New World Nation of Islam. The "mainstream" NOI considered NWNOI as a sort of dangerous, criminal and renegade outfit.
interesting to think about, but it would ruin the 'minimalism' of David Simon. Simon put out the story that he needed to put out, he did it well, and nothing more.
I’m from Baltimore. Brother Mouzone fits in perfectly. Also it is implied that even though Mouzone is from NY he has family in Baltimore. Poot mentions a girl he was talking to that had that last name.
He represents New York. That's why he's so much different. Not all of NY per se, but just the fact that New York is so big and diverse. A character like brother could very well represent a whole group of well learned African American Islamic men. New York is such a stark difference from the smaller, more gritty Baltimore. And of course that's not to say Bmore isn't diverse. I'm just saying Brother represents New York, Seriousness, discipline, and the reaper all in one character. He isn't Baltimore. He's very different. That's my take on it. If that makes sense.
He is exactly the gangster form of Malcom X. The gate keepers of the black community. Keeps the morals and ethics in the streets in tact. The character is very much necessary in the series and probably more dangerous than Avon and Marlo put together.
Mouzone was very much like one of These Nation of Islam "Fruit of Islam" type brothers. Well read, well dressed , well mannered and "very well capable".. When "The Fruit of Islam" came your way, you had a very serious problem and depending on what one might have done, things actually might go poorly for you. So any brotha' from the NYC who knows about "The Nation of Islam" would be very familiar with what this character Mouzone was about and his capabilities... CineRanter..you're my dude bro! Nice work...nice work.
The Homicide book (page 353) mentions a Clarence Mouzone, who beat three or four murders before being convicted of another. Don't know if that's supposed to be the real-life inspiration for Brother or if they just used the name, but it's interesting. PS Michael Potts is a great actor who helped make the character so memorable and was also really good in True Detective
As said by David Simon himself in an interview: "Brother Mouzone, like all of our characters, is a composite of attributes from a variety of people. No one is entirely fictional or entirely real.
Illustrating your point about Mouzone being street smart like Avon; in season 2 episode 12, Stringer asks a bedridden Mouzone (having been shot by Omar) who it was that came after him. Mouzone understood (like Avon) that in this situation, Stringer is the employER and Mouzone is the employEE, a soldier for hire. Stringer is a businessman first and foremost. He even attends the local business school to get hot marketing tips to better peddle his dope but there is no college class that teaches street smarts. When String asked Mouzone who shot him, String was placing himself as a subordinate to Mouzone, which is inappropriate given their contractual agreement, not to mention displaying ignorance in front of a soldier. Better to just say nothing and craft a new plan. Avon imparts this to Stringer later in the episode, saying "it ain't that part of it. It's that OTHER thing" meaning the street element. Plus, the way Avon emphasizes the word 'other' indicates that they've had multiple conversations like this in the past. Superlative writing.
I believe when Stringer asked it put him as number 1 suspect right away, and Avon understood that also, it came full circle when Brother met Avon at the barber shop
It's that Stringer came to see him at all that raised red flags. He's a cleaner. Him getting shot doesn't warrant a visit from the number 2 in the org. And even if it did, it should've been Avon, not Stringer. By showing all that unnatural interest and digging for info, Mouzone knew something was foul about him. If he were street smart, he would've known not to go there at all, but by doing so he made himself a suspect for Mouzone to investigate when he recovered.
If you've ever met a few of the guy in The Nation, you'd understand him better. I've personally met a few like him in Baltimore on the east side in like the mid/late 90s when they ran security for everything. Educated brothers but you knew never to step out of line with them. At the very least, that's the vibe they gave off.
I was a Fruit back in 93'. There was always a group a team of Brothers with these skills that were often times used. I won't go into detail as I'm still a registered member but every F.O.I. I have met is capable of what Brother is.
Very well researched video. For your future videos on The Wire I think these would be some interesting videos - What happened to McNulty - What happened to Marlo - The backstory and identity of The Greek - The cyclical nature of The Wire / who becomes who
I always wondered about Donut. The little black boy who would steal cars. 1 if them being a black Lincoln navigator... He couldn't have been over Twelve
Not related to the topic of the vid, but his sidekick is played by the real D'Andre McCullough from David Simon and Ed Burns previous HBO show, 'The Corner'. Definitely worth a watch if ya haven't seen it.
What do I think of this character? Genius. One would have to know the origin’s of the Philadelphia black mafia and their connection to the NOI to understand the significance of his character on the show. I was disappointed that he did not have more of a presence in the series. Measured, humble, deliberate, purposeful, intelligent, fearless, calculating, disciplined, standards, what’s not to like about him. Oh, and “PRESENCE.” One of my favorite characters from the wire.
In the 80's and 90's the NOI had a security company. They held the security contract with HUD for the towers and other projects here in Baltimore. They were a real business and did a great job.
Mouzone not carrying his gun doesn't mean he went to prison, it's just called being smart, in case they ever get checked lamar takes the fall, easy, besides that his reputation is enough to almost never having to carry a gun, kind of like Omar in certain scenes
Brother is very realistic. They're well spoken and intelligent Muslims in every black community. They are very elegant and dignified..yet deadly when provoked
The wire was based on real Baltimore police files. Most of the characters were actually real people so Brother Mouzone probably was an actual real life killer. I know a guy who was very entrenched in the drug/street life in Bmore careful during the early 80- 90 and did business and serious time behind bars with most of the people these characters were based on. He told us some very interesting back stories that were never televised.
Ah man I’d love to read them somehow you should maybe right a blog or somthing I met an Irish guy once on holiday as a kid he had a ton of stories on a laptop all about undercover ira shit They where awesome although a little sus as they talked about money disappearing and this man had multiple properties all over the world To this day I dunno wether they where real or not he wouldn’t say obviously
One of my favorite characters from The Wire. Intelligent, articulate, but deadly as a cobra. I feel like he’s someone I could sit down with and have an interesting conversation with, so long as he did have a contract on me.
I feel like ya can only say that he seems out of place is if ya just don't know anything about the many different cultures within the US. It's not even that it's a NY vs Bmore thing either, it's just that he's a Black Muslim or NOI member. Plenty of em are also in the streets. It's about survival. And a lot of em are kinda odd lol
Always enjoyed his character. Highly intelligent, respectful, well spoken and cold blooded. He’s so calm you wouldn’t know he’s a killer unless you know. A wolf among sheep in the guise of a sheep. Just a well dressed brother that looks out of place in the projects but not on Wall Street or in a church.
The Wire needs an own cathegory, it was a unique series, so realistic , so true, and the young guys that in the last season start their road to replace some of the main characters, the cycle of life, brilliant.
Fantastic video! I'm black. I've always understood who Brother Mouzone was, and where he came from. He was never weird or strange to me. A lot of white fans of the WIRE have a hard time taking Brother Mouzone seriously because they have no clue who the Fruit of Islam are. Many rappers and entertainers use the FOI for their security at concerts, or events being held in dangerous neighborhoods. Many FOI members founded their religion in prison. It's very possible that Brother Mouzone was already a stone cold killer before he founded Islam in prison. He most likely spent those years in prison reading books and educating himself.
facts. I am a white dude from Philly, grew up with many black friends and such in my neighborhood and I heard of stories and knew of people affiliated with the black mafia and Islam influence. So for me, his character on the wire was easily understood.
Right. I thought it was obvious that was his background. I guess I was ignorant of the fact that whites (and others) wouldn’t know the “prison -convert to NOI -release” cycle.
The Italian Mafia didn’t want to go to War with the NOI that should tell y’all something about these brothas, there not to be fucked with plus they are hella deep 💯
When I was in rehab one of the therapists was a NOI Baltimore guy, he also used to talk about Nicky Barnes and the counsel a lot, who was coincidentally connected to the Italians, a few of which I was related to when they were alive like my Papa. All of the men from the old school have this half street half professions disposition. Also, they used to say dealing drugs was not allowed and that was only half true. The bosses wanted control over what neighborhoods drugs were in and didn’t want their soldiers selling it just anywhere.
I'm from Philly & I have two brothers in the NOI & they both could play Brother Mouzone, except they're both over 6' tall. They both move & speak in the same cadence & they both read all of the time & one even wrote a book. Guys who behave just like him, even though they might not be hitmen, are all over Philly. Brother fits right in in Baltimore, which is a twin city of Philly. You just never met any NOI guys. If you did, you'd know the word "cartoonish" to describe them could end you on the spot. They speak clearly & don't use slang or cuss words, like Brother does, to ensure that every word they say is understood so you can't have an excuse to say you misunderstood them.
Although the drug trade was a central theme throughout The Wire, the series didn't utilize the structures emphasized in each season to show how each of them contributed to it. These structures were emphasized to show how they played a part in the city of Baltimore. The drug trade is one of those structures; not an end product of police, labor unions, schools, or media.
U say you don't get or understand Brother but that's exactly how Muslims or 5percenter act their character, their demeanor the way they carry themselves
The thing about the characters in the wire is they are realistic. In the "Streets" legends and Myths are born and surround individuals. And due to humans and our imaginations these legends seem larger than life until we see it happen for ourselves. 10 people that witness the same event will tell 10 different tales.
You mentioned the Black Mafia from Philly my mom use to tell me about how they all hung out at the Mosque on Broad and Girard I've met a few older men around my mom's age that grew up around that time
Bruh a Wire prequel could totally work…yeah we might know Avon Stringer and Joe gonna be alive at the end…but it’s still all about the Game and shit you can end it like 5 years prior and that way it’s not much of a wonder what happened to em..there’s so much potential there Holy shit can somebody please get David Simon on the phone
Simon says he's not interested. He made the point that this scurge has gotten worse, nationwide and there's no more statements to make with a Wire continuation.
being african american and knowing of the nation i didnt understand why oyu said he seemed cartoony but i get it now if you dont know what he is he seems out of place but knowing what he was as soon a i seen him he handled himself the way he shouldve he was well written and they didnt make him do out of character things
You should fall into the Internet rabbit hole that is the Wire. You'll quickly find out how out of touch many white Americans are with black Americans. They don't think men like Brother can exist because they're conditioned to think that all black men are like Cheese or Stringer. It's extremely hard for them to imagine a well spoken, educated, articulate sharp dressing black man. I always hit them with what y'all don't understand about Brother, we don't understand about Ziggy Sobotka.
I'm very picky when it comes to spinoffs to shows. Especially for a great show like The Wire. But I would absolutely LOVE a spinoff centering around Bro. Mouzone! Like Gustavo Fring from Breaking Bad, there is so much to this character.
For people familiar brother mouzone is NOT out of place. In cities a cross the globe in the black communities brothers like him have existed for a very long time and play an important role in the environment
He’s not out of place at all. He’s meant to portray a member of the nation of Islam. And they have a branch within the nation which is called the FOI. Or rather the fruit of Islam. The FOI acts essentially as The nations military. Like they actually undergo training in combat martial arts etc. and many of them are well spoken and even down to the Outfit. It’s very standard for members of the nation. They have a strict dress code. The red bowtie being a sign of membership
