I’m not Black but I have been around Black folks and i only recall them calling each other that in the 90’s. Maybe I just haven’t been around enough idk.
Rappers who used that word have been promoted in the past and new rap artists seem to follow their lead.
A lot of churches are cults. The Jehovah’s Witnesses put their religion before their own kids and shun them. They’ll pass on a blood transfusion for their religion. So yeah, mind control is a real thing.