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He was the real-life power behind Harlem’s underworld.
Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson built an empire that mixed crime, politics, and community — inspiring the hit series Godfather of Harlem.
In this video you’ll discover:
💥 How Bumpy rose from the streets of Harlem to become its undisputed “Godfather”
💥 His secret alliances and battles with the Mafia, politicians, and civil rights leaders
💥 The real events behind the TV series that dramatized his life
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0:00
Imagine being transported back in time to the 1930s and 40s, standing just
0:05
outside the old YMCA at 180 West 135th Street in Harlem, New York. What you
0:13
witness is truly intriguing. An Italian man and a black man sitting together in
0:19
the open, engrossed in a game of chess. This site is remarkable considering that
0:25
segregation wouldn't officially end until 1964,
0:30
decades later. These two men are not ordinary individuals. You're observing
0:36
Charles Lucky Luchiano, known as the father of modern organized crime in the United States, and Ellsworth Raymond
0:43
Bumpy Johnson, who would become the first black mafia boss. The story of how
0:49
these two unlikely friends came to sit side by side on 135th Street in Harlem
0:56
is a fascinating tale. And today I'll share the remarkable journey of Bumpy
1:02
Johnson, the coolest black gangster of his time. Ellsworth Raymond Bumpy
1:07
Johnson was a man who dared to take on the mafia and not only survived but
1:13
emerged victorious. Born on October 31st, 1905 in
1:18
Charleston, South Carolina, Bumpy Johnson is remembered as one of the toughest gangsters of the 20th century.
1:26
Johnson was a man of many nicknames, perhaps more than he could keep track of. Some referred to him as the golden
1:34
age cat with nine lives, while others hailed him as the Harlem godfather.
1:40
Even his most well-known alias, Bumpy, was derived from the abnormal growth at
1:46
the back of his head. Regardless of what you chose to call him, one thing was
1:52
undeniable. Bumpy Johnson was no saint, and trouble
1:57
always seemed to find him. Johnson's first encounter with Trouble came at the
2:03
tender age of 10. His older brother, Willie, was accused of killing a white
2:09
man. Despite Bumpy's lack of direct involvement in the crime, he and his
2:15
other siblings became potential targets for retaliation from the victim's family. In response to the looming
2:22
danger, his parents, Margaret Moltry and William Johnson, made the difficult decision to relocate the family to
2:29
Harlem in Manhattan, New York. Harlem, situated around 250 mi away from
2:37
Charleston, was considered a haven for black families in the early 20th century. However, the environment and
2:45
lifestyle in this new setting were vastly different from what the Johnson siblings had known in Charleston. Bumpy
2:53
Johnson's early years in Harlem coincided with the vibrant Harlem Renaissance, an iconic era spanning from
3:01
1918 to 1937. This period witnessed a flourishing
3:06
intellectual and cultural movement among African-Ameans encompassing arts,
3:12
literature, theater, and politics. It attracted mass migrations of African-Americans from all corners of
3:19
the United States to Harlem. Additionally, black exiles, immigrants,
3:25
and expatriots from the Caribbean and Africa also flock to this neighborhood,
3:31
creating a multithnic environment enriched with diverse social influences.
3:38
For a young child trying to shape his character and personality, this
3:43
environment posed challenges. Bumpy Johnson couldn't easily ignore the negative influences that had surrounded
3:50
him since his days in Charleston. Johnson was known for his short temper
3:56
and deep-seated resentment toward white people. He recounted his daily battles
4:02
with hostile white kids in order to attend school or venture into the
4:07
streets. Understandably, his parents were concerned for his safety, fearing
4:13
that his inability to be subservient might lead to a tragic fate. This
4:19
concern played a significant role in their decision to move to Harlem, hoping
4:24
that a new environment would offer Johnson a chance to start a fresh and become a better person. However,
4:32
Johnson's early days in Harlem weren't free from hardship. He was a target for
4:37
bullies who prayed on his distinctive appearance. His bumpy head, thick
4:43
southern accent, and dimminionative stature made him an easy mark for local
4:48
kids who didn't hesitate to torment him whenever the opportunity arose. Little
4:54
did they realize that they were unwittingly grooming him for a life in the criminal underworld.
5:01
By the age of 15, Bumpy Johnson had already developed a reputation as a
5:06
notorious petty criminal involved in extortion and armed robbery. A few
5:12
months later, his unruly behavior landed him at the Elmmyra Correctional Facility
5:18
in New York. Drawing from the diverse influences that permeated Harlem in the
5:23
20th century, Johnson evolved into a ruthless criminal boss. He employed
5:30
calculated tactics, unleashing terror when necessary and adopting diplomatic
5:35
strategies when the situation demanded it. Johnson's criminal career began
5:41
after he dropped out of school. Initially engaged in the years. During
5:46
his formative years, Bumpy Johnson engaged in various hustles to make a
5:52
living. He sold newspapers, organized pool games, and took care of sweeping
5:57
storefronts for small businesses alongside his friends. It was during
6:03
this period that he crossed paths with William Bub Hwlet, a ruthless enforcer
6:08
and the leader of the notorious Bub Hulet gang. Bob Hulet was captivated by
6:14
Johnson's fearless demeanor when the young teenager refused to back down during a heated confrontation near a
6:21
storefront. Recognizing the potential of Johnson's courage in the world of crime, Bublet
6:28
made him an enticing offer to work as a bodyguard for elite numbers bankers in
6:34
Harlem. Johnson accepted the offer and exceeded all expectations in his new
6:40
role, swiftly gaining a reputation as one of the most skilled security guards
6:45
in the neighborhood. However, the allure of criminal life proved too strong to
6:51
resist. In his early 20s, Bumpy Johnson found himself spending a significant
6:57
portion of his time behind bars. In fact, many Harlem residents believed
7:03
that the streets were somewhat safer whenever Johnson was incarcerated because when he was out, he struck fear
7:11
into anyone who dared to challenge him. One such daring challenger was Ulissiz
7:17
Rollins, a notorious mob enforcer in Harlem. Rollins was among the few brave
7:23
souls who had the audacity to face off against Bumpy Johnson. However, he would
7:30
come to regret that decision. On one occasion, both men engaged in a brutal
7:36
street fight with Johnson, emerging victorious. According to reports, after this bloody
7:42
encounter, Rollins left with 36 distinct cuts inflicted by Johnson's switchblade.
7:49
On another occasion, the two men crossed paths at a dinner club, and Johnson
7:54
wasted no time in attacking Rollins with his blade. By the time they were pulled apart, one
8:00
of Rollins's eyeballs was left hanging by its ligaments. Justin's biography
8:06
provides a chilling account of the aftermath, describing how Bumpy calmly
8:12
adjusted his tie, while Rollins remained on the floor, his face and body battered
8:19
and an eyeball dangling from its socket. These incidents paint a vivid picture of
8:24
the cruelty and ruthlessness associated with Bumpy Johnson. His exceptional
8:30
skills with a switchblade were honed during his days as a barber. Archives
8:36
from the 1940 census revealed that a 41-year-old man named Ellsworth Johnson
8:42
worked as a barber in Harlem with the details from this archive aligning with
8:48
his background and identity. The 1940 census records align perfectly with the
8:55
profile of Bumpy Johnson. This fact is corroborated by Johnson's granddaughter,
9:00
Margaret Johnson, who affirmed that her grandfather worked as a barber in the early 1940s.
9:07
It was a claim he often made to people and according to Margaret, he had a particular knack for handling a straight
9:15
razor. The census data indicated that during that period, Bumpy Johnson earned
9:21
an annual salary of over $1,000. However, in hindsight, we now understand
9:28
that his income far exceeded that figure, and his immediate and extended
9:33
family enjoyed the benefits. In Margaret's case, Bumpy Johnson lavished
9:39
her with various luxuries. She attended a private school and was chauffeured in
9:44
a limousine. Johnson also threw extravagant birthday parties for his granddaughter and
9:50
frequently ventured to Aqueduct or Belmont to place bets on horses. While
9:56
most other children held minor jobs to earn a modest income, Margaret received
10:01
substantial salaries, possibly derived from her grandfather's profits in illegal gambling. Despite his fearsome
10:09
reputation, Bumpy Johnson's generosity reportedly extended beyond his family.
10:15
He displayed compassion toward the less fortunate in his neighborhood, offering financial donations and assistance in
10:22
various forms. He even covered rent for struggling families and ensured their
10:28
children received an education. These charitable endeavors endeared him to the
10:33
community, making him a beloved figure within Harlem. In describing Johnson's
10:40
personality, Frank Lucas, a notorious drug lord who operated in Harlem during
10:45
the 1960s and 1970s, stated that Bumpy Johnson was not your typical gangster.
10:52
Lucas emphasized that Johnson worked on the streets, but he did not belong to
10:58
the streets. He exuded refinement and class, more akin to a businessman
11:03
pursuing a legitimate career than many others in the underworld. Lucas could discern simply by observing
11:10
him that Johnson was distinct from the people he encountered in the streets.
11:16
Bumpy Johnson's popularity was further elevated by his extravagant fashion
11:21
sense and opulent lifestyle. He socialized with celebrities like
11:26
Billy Holiday and Sugar Ray Robinson. However, his association with such
11:32
prominent figures did not deter him from engaging in criminal activities.
11:38
After serving a 30-month jail term for a grand lasseny charge, Bumpy Johnson
11:43
returned to the streets with no fortune to fall back on and no viable occupation. His frustration during this
11:51
time eventually led him to cross paths with Stephanie Sinclair. Stephanie
11:56
Sinclair, a notorious Harlem mob boss renowned as the queen of numbers,
12:02
swiftly employed Bumpy Johnson as her chief enforcer. Stephanie Sinclair's journey to becoming
12:09
a prominent figure in the world of organized crime was anything but typical. She was born to a single mother
12:17
on December 24th, 1897. And her early years were marked by her
12:22
mother's hard work to provide for her education. However, tragedy struck during her
12:29
teenage years when her mother fell seriously ill at the age of 15 and
12:34
eventually succumbed to the illness. Left to navigate the challenges of life
12:39
alone, Stephanie demonstrated remarkable resilience. Following her mother's
12:45
passing, Stephanie saved up and decided to migrate from the West Indies to
12:50
Montreal, Canada. Upon arriving in Canada, she initially worked as a
12:55
housekeeper for a family before moving to the United States in 1912.
13:01
Her first destination in the US was Harlem, where she encountered a man named Duke, with whom she fell in love.
13:09
Duke, reportedly smitten with Stephanie, attempted to involve her in sex trafficking. Though historical records
13:17
do not clarify Stephanie's stance on the matter, their association was brief as
13:23
Duke met his demise in a notorious gang conflict. Stephanie Sinclair soon
13:29
assimilated into Harlem's vibrant culture, leveraging her sound educational background to her advantage.
13:37
Her ability to fluently communicate in both French and English, along with her
13:42
strong personality, developed from a young age, positioned her as a vocal
13:47
advocate against racial injustice and other societal issues affecting the
13:53
black community. While she fought against racial discrimination, Stephanie
13:58
Sinclair also engaged in various illicit activities, often with the assistance of
14:04
her newfound partner, Ed. Within a few years, the couple accumulated a
14:10
substantial sum of $30,000 from their drug peddling operations alone. However,
14:16
Stephanie eventually decided that she wanted to extricate herself from this life of crime. Predictably, her decision
14:24
to exit the illicit business enraged Ed, who attempted to strangle her. In a
14:30
life-threatening struggle, Stephanie successfully defended herself, causing
14:36
Ed's demise when his head struck a wall during their altercation. Stephanie wasted no time moving forward
14:43
and invested $10,000 in a numbers racket game known as policy banking. The
14:49
business flourished and contributed to the employment and economic empowerment
14:54
of several individuals within the black Harlem community. Stephanie Sinclair's
15:00
thriving business empire encompassed a wide array of activities from employing
15:06
residents as cooks, chauffeers, and property managers to ventures that
15:12
included gambling and lotteryies. Many people regarded her enterprise as a
15:17
sound investment platform, leading to profits amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars by 1930.
15:25
Stephanie's personal fortune was estimated at around half a million,
15:31
equivalent to approximately $8 million in today's economy.
15:36
This impressive valuation did not even include the numerous properties she owned throughout the Harlem
15:42
neighborhood. As Stephanie's empire expanded, she wielded substantial
15:48
influence. She had numerous law enforcement officers on her payroll which allowed her to exert control and
15:55
influence over the system. However, with the end of the prohibition era in 1933,
16:03
traditional Jewish and Italian crime families began to feel frustrated with
16:08
diminishing profits. In response, they sought to infiltrate Harlem and seize
16:14
control of the lucrative numbers game business. Dutch Schultz, a notorious
16:20
crime boss, spearheaded this takeover. Schultz was primarily based in the
16:25
northern part of New York City and was undeniably one of the most prominent mobsters of his time. His bootlegging
16:33
operation was worth approximately $2 million, equivalent to around $35
16:38
million in today's currency. However, he coveted a piece of the $50 million in
16:45
annual turnover generated by the numbers racket businesses in Harlem. In the
16:50
initial stages of the incursion, Schulz dispatched word across town, presenting the owners of the numbers racket
16:57
establishments with two options. They could either relinquish their authority
17:02
and work under his umbrella or risk losing their businesses entirely. Facing
17:09
a difficult decision, most of these business owners realized they could not compete head-to-head with Dutch Schultz
17:15
and reluctantly agreed to his terms. In return, Schulz paid each of them a
17:21
weekly basic salary of $200. However, amidst this wave of
17:26
acquiescence, the only female numbers runner in Harlem, Stephanie Sinclair,
17:31
and her chief enforcer, Bumpy Johnson, stood their ground. At just 26 years
17:38
old, Johnson led a small but courageous team in a determined war against one of
17:44
the most established criminal gangs of that era. Bumpy Johnson's deeply
17:50
ingrained childhood resentment towards white individuals served as an additional driving force in his
17:56
relentless battle against Dutch Schultz and his associates. In a subsequent interview regarding the
18:03
conflict, Bumpy's wife, my Johnson, disclosed that her husband and his team
18:09
of nine waged a guerilla war against Dutch Schultz and his men. While Schultz
18:16
had the advantage of a larger squad, most of his members were white, making them conspicuous in Harlem's
18:23
predominantly black community. In contrast, Bumpy's team could effectively
18:28
blend in and operate covertly. Over the next 3 years, this gang war saw more
18:35
than 40 individuals killed or kidnapped. Despite Schulz and his crew possessing
18:41
superior firepower, they struggled to crush Stephanie Sinclair's empire thanks
18:47
to the unwavering determination of Bumpy Johnson and his fearless men. However,
18:54
at a certain point, something had to give. Surprisingly, it was Schulz who
19:00
capitulated first. In October 1935, the notorious crime boss met his demise at
19:07
the hands of gunman. While many might have assumed that Stephanie Stlair and
19:12
Bumpy Johnson were behind Schultz's murder, that was not the case.
19:18
Concurrent with the gang war, Schulz had been under federal investigation for
19:23
multiple tax evasion cases. And realizing he was on the verge of conviction, he decided to eliminate
19:30
Thomas Dwey, the prosecuting attorney handling his trial. To proceed with his
19:36
plan, Schulz needed permission from Lucky Luciano, the head of the Italian crime family in New York. Luciano,
19:44
however, denied the request, fearing it could trigger significant reprisals from
19:50
the authorities. Desperate to avoid imprisonment, Schulz proceeded with his plan against
19:56
Luchiano's wishes. Unfortunately, Luchiano learned of Schulz's
20:02
disobedience and approved his assassination. On October 23rd, 1935, Schulz sustained
20:09
a gunshot wound just below the heart while using the bathroom at Newark's
20:15
Palace Chop House restaurant. The injury was severe, but Schultz clung to life
20:20
for another 22 hours before passing away. Even on his deathbed, Schultz
20:26
managed to stir up controversy. He reportedly offered his doctor $10,000
20:32
to cover the cost of treatment. Fearing the consequences of accepting money from
20:37
the notorious mobster, the doctor declined the generous offer. In the
20:43
final moments of his life, Dutch Schulz received a chilling message from Stephanie Sinclair, who conveyed the
20:50
words, "As ye sow, so shall you reap." In response, Schulz seemed to mutter the
20:57
phrase, "A boy has never wept, nor dashed a thousand kin." You can play
21:03
jacks and girls do that with a softball and do tricks with it. Oh, dog biscuit.
21:09
And when he is happy, he doesn't get snappy. Following Schulz's demise, Bumpy
21:14
Johnson and Lucky Luciano reached a significant agreement. This arrangement
21:20
allowed the Harlem lottery houses to maintain their independence while contributing a portion of their profits
21:27
to the Italian crime boss. While it wasn't a perfect solution, especially
21:32
considering Johnson's aversion to white individuals, it was a fair compromise
21:37
given the formidable opponent he faced in Charles Lucky Luchiano, nicknamed the godfather of organized
21:44
crime in the United States. Lucky Luciano was born on November 24th, 1897
21:52
in Sicily, Italy. A decade after his birth, Luciano's father, Antonio
21:58
Lucania, decided to relocate the family from Larai, Sicily to the Lower East
22:04
Side of Manhattan in New York City. At the time, this area had become a popular
22:11
destination for Italian families seeking better opportunities in the United
22:16
States. However, these opportunities often came at a steep price. New York City was
22:24
viewed as an economic hub where Italian families could earn a legitimate living,
22:30
but it was also the epicenter of criminal activity in the country.
22:35
Luchiano's parents worked tirelessly to provide for their family, but the pervasive influence of crime on the
22:41
streets of Manhattan meant that their children were constantly at risk of being lured into criminal gangs. In
22:49
Lutano's case, he dropped out of school at the age of 14 to work as a hat
22:54
delivery boy, earning a meager $7 per week. Despite the modest income, one
23:00
might have assumed it was sufficient for a young boy like Lucky Luchiano.
23:06
However, this was not the case. After winning a life-changing sum of 244
23:13
in a street dice game, Luchiano decided it was time to quit his job as a hat
23:20
delivery boy. He believed there were faria ways to make money on the streets of New York. By his early teenage years,
23:28
Luchiano exhibited the bravado of a seasoned adult criminal. Lucky Luciano's
23:34
involvement in criminal activities had begun with petty crimes such as extortion, muggings, and theft. To make
23:43
matters worse, he officially joined the notorious Five Points gang and quickly
23:48
progressed from being a petty criminal to dealing in heroine. However,
23:53
alongside his pension for criminality, Luchiano had a strong interest in the
23:59
art of accumulating wealth. Money was the primary allure that drew him into a
24:05
life of crime and became the driving force behind his actions and decisions.
24:11
After a brief incarceration for drugrelated offenses, Luchiano's fortunes took a turn when he was
24:17
recruited by Joe Maseria, a prominent street boss in Manhattan in 1920.
24:24
Within a few years, he rose to become Maseria's right-hand man, entrusted with
24:30
overseeing the day-to-day operations on behalf of his boss. During this time,
24:36
the criminal enterprise was flourishing, leading to a relatively peaceful and
24:41
comfortable life for Lucky Luchiano. However, the landscape dramatically
24:47
shifted during the violent gang war of the early 1930s. A significant dispute
24:53
led Maseria to declare war on a rival crime family under Salvator Maransano.
25:00
Luciano along with other foot soldiers of Maseria's crime family was reluctantly drawn into the conflict.
25:07
This turn of events did not sit well with Luchiano and his associates as it attracted unnecessary attention and more
25:15
importantly resulted in significant profit losses. Luchiano decided to take
25:20
matters into his own hands and devised a plan to resolve the issue. His first
25:26
step was to set a trap for his own boss, Joe Maseria. This plan came to fruition
25:33
on April 15th, 1931 when Luchiano invited Joe Maseria to a restaurant in
25:39
Coney Island. During their meal, Luchiano excused himself to visit the
25:45
restroom. As Masera continued dining, four of Luchiano's most trusted and
25:50
loyal associates entered the restaurant and assassinated Maseria. The hit squad
25:57
comprised Vito Geneovzi, Albert Anastasia, Joe Adonis, and Bugsy
26:02
Seagull. 5 months later, Luchiano hired four Jewish gunmen to eliminate Salvator
26:09
Maranzano, effectively ending the conflict between the two rival gangs.
26:14
This move allowed Luciano and other young rakateeers to return to a semblance of normaly in their lives. Due
26:22
to his unwavering courage and influence in the criminal underworld, Luchiano was
26:27
seen as the natural successor to the throne left vacant by the deaths of Joe
26:33
Mazeran Salvator Maranzano. Lucky Luchiano never officially embraced the
26:40
title, but most individuals within the mafia family regarded him as the de
26:45
facto boss of all bosses. In the years following ded of his former boss, Lutano
26:52
embarked on a reconsideration of the mafia's operational methods. While
26:58
acknowledging that violence had been a significant contributing factor to the mafia's success, he also believed in
27:05
running the business efficiently without the need for bloodshed. Luciano called
27:10
for a meeting of American Italian crime bosses in Chicago, which included four
27:15
of the most prominent criminal gang leaders in New York and the legendary Al Capone. In this unprecedented gathering,
27:24
Luciano restructured the regional crime groups into five distinct mafia
27:29
families. Each family was expected to operate under the authority of a regional boss and adhere to a uniform
27:37
code of honor known as Omea. This novel structure allowed each mafia family to
27:43
operate autonomously while maintaining the central interest. Most importantly,
27:49
it helped to prevent violent clashes among the families. Following this meeting, a period of significant peace
27:56
and stability prevailed within the mafia. Around this time, Luchiano
28:02
endorsed the independence of Harlem's lottery houses, albeit retaining indirect control over the region through
28:09
Bumpy Johnson. However, Karma was slowly catching up with both men. By 1935,
28:17
special prosecutor Thomas Dui had amassed ample evidence of Luchiano's involvement in illicit prostitution
28:24
rackets and extortion activities. One year later, Luciano was found guilty on
28:30
63 counts and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Despite his incarceration, he
28:37
continued to oversee the activities of the mafia family from behind bars until he was eventually granted a pardon and
28:44
deported to Italy in 1946. Simultaneously, rapid changes were unfolding in the
28:52
Harlem crime scene. Stephanie Sinclair made the decision to step away from her
28:58
criminal empire, passing the torch to Bumpy Johnson. Under Johnson's
29:03
leadership, the business evolved from being a numbers racket and extortion enterprise into a comprehensive criminal
29:11
organization involved in a cotics, prostitution, gambling, and protection
29:16
rackets. Bumpy Johnson effectively dominated the Harlem crime community for several years. In 1951, Bumpy Johnson
29:25
found himself in legal trouble and was arrested. Based on the evidence presented during his trial, Johnson was
29:33
sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. For a significant portion of his sentence, Johnson was incarcerated at
29:41
Alcatraz, the maximum security prison located on a remote island off the coast
29:47
of California, famously known as The Rock. This facility was renowned for
29:53
being one of the most secure prisons in the United States and the world. Being
29:58
held at Alcatraz was considered one of the harshest punishments a criminal
30:03
could endure. This reputation wasn't solely due to the stern demeanor of the
30:09
prizen guards or the frequent use of solitary confinement. Alcatraz had a
30:14
capacity to house between 300 and 450 inmates. Yet it was widely reported that
30:21
the facility never held more than 250 prisoners at any given time. Notorious
30:27
criminals such as Al Capone, George Kelly, and Robert Stradalso spent
30:32
periods of their criminal lives in this unforgiving environment. What set
30:37
Alcatraz apart was its isolated location on an island in the middle of San
30:43
Francisco Bay. This meant that any inmate housed there was completely cut
30:48
off from the outside world. Furthermore, the island was surrounded by a
30:54
treacherous waters with strong currents and chilly temperatures around 16° C. In
31:01
essence, Alcatraz was an almost inescapable prison. However, a few bold
31:08
individuals attempted to break free from the facility. A total of 36 men tried 14
31:15
different escape attempts at Alcatraz. Many of them were either captured or killed during their attempts. It is
31:22
widely believed that those who managed to evade the guard's attention likely did not survive the treacherous waters
31:29
to reach the shore. In May 1946, chaos erupted at Alcatraz when a group of
31:36
inmates overpowered prison guards, taking possession of firearms and keys.
31:42
This led to a fierce gun battle between the inmates and the guards, resulting in
31:47
the deaths of three escapees and two security guards. The situation could
31:53
have escalated even further if not for the intervention of the US Marines. Fast
32:00
forward to June 1962. The mysterious disappearance of Frank Morris, John
32:05
Angland, and his brother Clarence from their cell room at Alcatraz left investigators baffled. Subsequent
32:13
investigations revealed multiple clues that indicated the escape plan was
32:18
meticulously crafted and perfected over a period of 6 months. They expanded the
32:24
ventilation ducts using makeshift drills and other household tools. And then they
32:30
constructed a makeshift boat measuring 61 14 ft using 50 raincoats. Despite 17
32:38
years of investigation by the FBI, no credible evidence could be found to
32:44
confirm that any of these men successfully made it off the island alive. Unverified reports have suggested
32:52
that Bumpy Johnson may have been involved in this audacious escape mission. However, his wife asserted that
32:59
he chose not to join the escapees because he preferred to be a free man rather than a fugitive. Upon completing
33:07
his prison sentence, Bumpy Johnson returned to Harlem, only to find a
33:13
marketkedly different society than the one he left behind. Drug trading had
33:18
become rampant, and the influence of mafia families had grown even more pronounced than during Johnson's time as
33:25
a godfather. Despite being one of the pioneers of illegal activities in Harlem, Bumpy Johnson decided to turn a
33:33
new leaf and began advocating for the civil rights of black Americans in the
33:38
community. It was during this period that he reconnected with Malcolm X, an
33:44
old friend and a powerful community leader and civil rights activist. In the
33:50
early stages of his advocacy career, Malcolm X was affiliated with a
33:55
Chicago-based black Muslim movement led by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
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Malcolm emerged as one of the most eloquent and influential voices within the organization. He traveled
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extensively across the United States and other countries delivering inspirational lectures. Malcolm X's exceptional
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intelligence and oratory skills earned him the admiration of prominent figures.
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At one point, the civil rights activist developed a close relationship with the legendary Muhammad Ali. However, his
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growing influence began to pose a challenge to the leadership of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. his mentor at
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the time. The breaking point between the two men occurred in November 1963
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following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. After the incident,
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Elijah Muhammad ordered his followers to refrain from discussing the matter, even
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restricting them from speaking about it. However, Malcolm X disregarded this
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directive when he characterized the president's assassination as the devil's chickens coming home to roost. Elijah
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Muhammad responded by suspending Malcolm X for 90 days. Malcolm X's suspension
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from the black Muslim movement didn't appear to deter him from expressing his
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controversial views. A few months after the suspension was announced, Malcolm X
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reiterated his stance in an interview with journalists. He clarified that when
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he stated, "The chickens came home to roost," he meant the same thing as the climate of hate means that this is the
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result of something. He denied expressing gladness at the president's assassination, stating that this was a
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misinterpretation by the press. Elijah Muhammad and his followers were further
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insensed by this statement and it was clear that tensions were escalating. The
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civil rights leader began receiving death threats and when asked about the reason for these threats, he openly
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admitted the underlying issue. Malcolm X revealed that the head of the movement
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had fathered children with six different teenage girls who served as his private
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personal secretary. Recognizing the growing danger, Malcolm X knew he had
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severed ties with the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He was prepared for the
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consequences, showing no fear in the face of intimidation or threats. To
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ensure his safety, he employed Bumpy Johnson as his personal bodyguard.
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Johnson and his gang handled security matters, allowing Malcolm X to continue
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his work as an activist. However, after a while, Malcolm X decided that his
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association with a notorious figure like Johnson could harm his image. Consequently, he relieved the Harlem
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godfather of his duties, leaving him vulnerable to attacks from extremists.
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Tragically, Malcolm X was assassinated a few weeks later on February 21st, 1965.
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3 years later, Bumpy Johnson met a different fate, unrelated to violence or
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crime. While enjoying his favorite meal of chicken legs and homonyy grits at
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Wells restaurant in Harlem, he suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed.
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Minutes later, he took his final breath. Autopsy reports later revealed that
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Johnson had died of congestive heart failure. This was a surprising end as
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given the life he had led, not many had expected Bumpy Johnson to meet a natural
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death. Thanks for watching.