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Bumpy Johnson: The Real Godfather of Harlem – The Untold Story!
Sep 22, 2025
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 If you’re fascinated by true crime, Black history, and the real stories behind famous shows, this deep dive is for you. 👍 Like, comment & share if you want more untold mob stories 🔔 Subscribe & turn on notifications so you never miss our next reveal #BumpyJohnson #GodfatherOfHarlem #TrueCrime #HarlemHistory #MafiaStories --~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Like and subscribe will be greatly appreciated! 🙏 -~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Grow Your YouTube Channel Faster with vidIQ! Want to get more views, subscribers, and take your YouTube game to the next level? I personally use vidIQ to optimize my videos, find the best keywords, analyze trends, and crush the algorithm.
View Video Transcript
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
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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.