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Harlem, 1930s. An Italian mobster and a Black gangster sit together playing chess—in the middle of segregation. One is Lucky Luciano, father of organized crime. The other is Bumpy Johnson, the man who dared to fight the mafia... and won.
This is the untold story of Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson—the Harlem Godfather who rose from nothing, survived brutal gang wars, outsmarted Dutch Schultz, and made a deal with the most powerful crime boss in America. He wasn't just a gangster. He was a protector, a strategist, and a legend who walked between two worlds.
From his childhood escape from the South, to his bloody rise in Harlem's underworld, to his time in Alcatraz and his unlikely friendship with Malcolm X—Bumpy's life reads like a movie. But it's all real.
What would you have done in Bumpy's position—fight or negotiate?
Do you think he was a villain, a hero, or something in between?
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0:00
Imagine being transported back in time to the 1930s and4s. Standing just
0:05
outside the old YMCA at 180 West 135th Street in Harlem, New York. What you
0:12
witness is truly intriguing. An Italian man and a black man sitting together in the open, engrossed in a game of chess.
0:19
This site is remarkable considering that segregation wouldn't officially end until 1964, decades later. These two men
0:28
are not ordinary individuals. You're observing Charles Lucky Luchiano, known
0:33
as the father of modern organized crime in the United States, and Ellsworth Raymond Bumpy Johnson, who would become
0:40
the first black mafia boss. The story of how these two unlikely friends came to
0:45
sit side by side on 135th Street in Harlem is a fascinating tale. And today
0:51
I'll share the remarkable journey of Bumpy Johnson, the coolest black gangster of his time. Ellsworth Raymond
0:58
Bumpy Johnson was a man who dared to take on the mafia and not only survived but emerged victorious. Born on October
1:06
31st, 1905 in Charleston, South Carolina, Bumpy Johnson is remembered as
1:11
one of the toughest gangsters of the 20th century, Johnson was a man of many nicknames, perhaps more than he could
1:18
keep track of. Some referred to him as the golden age cat with nine lives, while others hailed him as the Harlem
1:25
godfather. Even his most well-known alias, Bumpy, was derived from the
1:30
abnormal growth at the back of his head. Regardless of what you chose to call him, one thing was undeniable. Bumpy
1:37
Johnson was no saint, and trouble always seemed to find him. Johnson's first
1:42
encounter with Trouble came at the tender age of 10. His older brother, Willie, was accused of killing a white
1:48
man. Despite Bumpy's lack of direct involvement in the crime, he and his other siblings became potential targets
1:55
for retaliation from the victim's family. In response to the looming danger, his parents, Margaret Moltry and
2:02
William Johnson, made the difficult decision to relocate the family to Harlem in Manhattan, New York. Harlem,
2:09
situated around 250 mi away from Charleston, was considered a haven for black families in the early 20th
2:16
century. However, the environment and lifestyle in this new setting were vastly different from what the Johnson
2:22
siblings had known in Charleston. Bumpy Johnson's early years in Harlem coincided with the vibrant Harlem
2:28
Renaissance, an iconic era spanning from 1918 to 1937.
2:34
This period witnessed a flourishing intellectual and cultural movement among African-Ameans encompassing arts,
2:41
literature, theater, and politics. It attracted mass migrations of African-Americans from all corners of
2:47
the United States to Harlem. Additionally, black exiles, immigrants, and expatriots from the Caribbean and
2:53
Africa also flocked to this neighborhood, creating a multithnic environment enriched with diverse social
2:59
influences. For a young child trying to shape his character and personality,
3:04
this environment posed challenges. Bumpy Johnson couldn't easily ignore the negative influences that had surrounded
3:11
him since his days in Charleston. Johnson was known for his short temper and deep-seated resentment toward white
3:17
people. He recounted his daily battles with hostile white kids in order to attend school or venture into the
3:24
streets. Understandably, his parents were concerned for his safety, fearing that his inability to be subservient
3:30
might lead to a tragic fate. This concern played a significant role in their decision to move to Harlem, hoping
3:36
that a new environment would offer Johnson a chance to start a fresh and become a better person. However,
3:42
Johnson's early days in Harlem weren't free from hardship. He was a target for bullies who prayed on his distinctive
3:48
appearance. His bumpy head, thick southern accent, and dimminionive stature made him an easy mark for local
3:55
kids who didn't hesitate to torment him whenever the opportunity arose. Little did they realize that they were
4:01
unwittingly grooming him for a life in the criminal underworld. By the age of 15, Bumpy Johnson had already developed
4:08
a reputation as a notorious, petty criminal involved in extortion and armed robbery. A few months later, his unruly
4:16
behavior landed him at the Elmmyra Correctional Facility in New York. Drawing from the diverse influences that
4:22
permeated Harlem in the 20th century, Johnson evolved into a ruthless criminal boss. He employed calculated tactics,
4:30
unleashing terror when necessary, and adopting diplomatic strategies when the situation demanded it. Johnson's
4:37
criminal career began after he dropped out of school, initially engaged. During his formative years, Bumpy Johnson
4:44
engaged in various hustles to make a living. He sold newspapers, organized pool games, and took care of sweeping
4:51
storefronts for small businesses alongside his friends. It was during this period that he crossed paths with
4:58
William Bub Hewlet, a ruthless enforcer and the leader of the notorious Bub Hulet gang. Bub Hulet was captivated by
5:06
Johnson's fearless demeanor when the young teenager refused to back down during a heated confrontation near a
5:12
storefront. Recognizing the potential of Johnson's courage in the world of crime,
5:17
Bub Hulet made him an enticing offer to work as a bodyguard for elite numbers
5:22
bankers in Harlem. Johnson accepted the offer and exceeded all expectations in
5:28
his new role, swiftly gaining a reputation as one of the most skilled security guards in the neighborhood.
5:34
However, the allure of criminal life proved too strong to resist. In his
5:39
early 20s, Bumpy Johnson found himself spending a significant portion of his time behind bars. In fact, many Harlem
5:47
residents believed that the streets were somewhat safer whenever Johnson was incarcerated because when he was out, he
5:53
struck fear into anyone who dared to challenge him. One such daring challenger was Ulissiz Rollins, a
5:59
notorious mob enforcer in Harlem. Rollins was among the few brave souls who had the audacity to face off against
6:06
Bumpy Johnson. However, he would come to regret that decision. On one occasion,
6:12
both men engaged in a brutal street fight with Johnson emerging victorious.
6:17
According to reports, after this bloody encounter, Rollins left with 36 distinct
6:22
cuts inflicted by Johnson's switchblade. On another occasion, the two men crossed
6:28
paths at a dinner club, and Johnson wasted no time in attacking Rollins with his blade. By the time they were pulled
6:34
apart, one of Rollins's eyeballs was left hanging by its ligaments. Justin's
6:40
biography provides a chilling account of the aftermath, describing how Bumpy calmly adjusted his tie while Rollins
6:46
remained on the floor, his face and body battered, and an eyeball dangling from its socket. These incidents paint a
6:54
vivid picture of the cruelty and ruthlessness associated with Bumpy Johnson. His exceptional skills with a
7:00
switchblade were honed during his days as a barber. Archives from the 1940
7:06
census revealed that a 41-year-old man named Ellsworth Johnson worked as a barber in Harlem, with the details from
7:13
this archive aligning with his background and identity. The 1940 census records align perfectly with the profile
7:20
of Bumpy Johnson. This fact is corroborated by Johnson's granddaughter, Margaret Johnson, who affirmed that her
7:27
grandfather worked as a barber in the early 1940s. It was a claim he often made to people,
7:33
and according to Margaret, he had a particular knack for handling a straight razor. The census data indicated that
7:40
during that period, Bumpy Johnson earned an annual salary of over $1,000.
7:46
However, in hindsight, we now understand that his income far exceeded that figure, and his immediate and extended
7:53
family enjoyed the benefits. In Margaret's case, Bumpy Johnson lavished her with various luxuries. She attended
8:00
a private school and was chauffeurred in a limousine. Johnson also threw extravagant birthday parties for his
8:06
granddaughter and frequently ventured to Aqueduct or Belmont to place bets on horses. While most other children held
8:13
minor jobs to earn a modest income, Margaret received substantial salaries, possibly derived from her grandfather's
8:20
profits in illegal gambling. Despite his fearsome reputation, Bumpy Johnson's
8:25
generosity reportedly extended beyond his family. He displayed compassion toward the less fortunate in his
8:31
neighborhood, offering financial donations and assistance in various forms. He even covered rent for
8:37
struggling families and ensured their children received an education. These charitable endeavors endeared him to the
8:44
community, making him a beloved figure within Harlem. In describing Johnson's
8:49
personality, Frank Lucas, a notorious drug lord who operated in Harlem during
8:55
the 1960s and 1970s, stated that Bumpy Johnson was not your typical gangster.
9:01
Lucas emphasized that Johnson worked on the streets, but he did not belong to the streets. He exuded refinement and
9:08
class, more akin to a businessman pursuing a legitimate career than many others in the underworld. Lucas could
9:15
discern simply by observing him that Johnson was distinct from the people he encountered in the streets. Bumpy
9:22
Johnson's popularity was further elevated by his extravagant fashion sense and opulent lifestyle. He
9:28
socialized with celebrities like Billy Holiday and Sugar Ray Robinson. However, his association with such prominent
9:35
figures did not deter him from engaging in criminal activities. After serving a
9:40
30-month jail term for a grand lararseny charge, Bumpy Johnson returned to the streets with no fortune to fall back on
9:47
and no viable occupation. His frustration during this time eventually led him to cross paths with Stephanie
9:54
Sinclair. Stephanie Sinclair, a notorious Harlem mob boss renowned as the queen of numbers, swiftly employed
10:00
Bumpy Johnson as her chief enforcer. Stephanie Sinclair's journey to becoming a prominent figure in the world of
10:07
organized crime was anything but typical. She was born to a single mother on December 24th, 1897, and her early
10:15
years were marked by her mother's hard work to provide for her education. However, tragedy struck during her
10:22
teenage years when her mother fell seriously ill at the age of 15 and eventually succumbed to the illness.
10:28
Left to navigate the challenges of life alone, Stephanie demonstrated remarkable resilience. Following her mother's
10:36
passing, Stephanie saved up and decided to migrate from the West Indies to Montreal, Canada.
10:42
Upon arriving in Canada, she initially worked as a housekeeper for a family before moving to the United States in
10:48
1912. Her first destination in the US was Harlem, where she encountered a man
10:53
named Duke, with whom she fell in love. Duke, reportedly smitten with Stephanie,
10:59
attempted to involve her in sex trafficking. Though historical records do not clarify Stephanie's stance on the
11:05
matter, their association was brief as Duke met his demise in a notorious gang
11:11
conflict. Stephanie Sinclair soon assimilated into Harlem's vibrant culture, leveraging her sound
11:18
educational background to her advantage. Her ability to fluently communicate in both French and English, along with her
11:25
strong personality developed from a young age, positioned her as a vocal advocate against racial injustice and
11:31
other societal issues affecting the black community. While she fought against racial discrimination, Stephanie
11:38
Sinclair also engaged in various illicit activities, often with the assistance of her newfound partner, Ed. Within a few
11:46
years, the couple accumulated a substantial sum of $30,000 from their
11:51
drug pedaling operations alone. However, Stephanie eventually decided that she
11:56
wanted to extricate herself from this life of crime. Predictably, her decision
12:01
to exit the illicit business enraged Ed, who attempted to strangle her. In a
12:06
life-threatening struggle, Stephanie successfully defended herself, causing Ed's demise when his head struck a wall
12:13
during their altercation. Stephanie wasted no time moving forward and invested $10,000 in a numbers racket
12:20
game known as policy banking. The business flourished and contributed to the employment and economic empowerment
12:26
of several individuals within the black Harlem community. Stephanie Sinclair's thriving business empire encompassed a
12:33
wide array of activities from employing residents as cooks, chauffeers, and property managers to ventures that
12:39
included gambling and lotteryies. Many people regarded her enterprise as a sound investment platform, leading to
12:46
profits amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars by 1930. Stephanie's personal fortune was
12:52
estimated at around half a million, equivalent to approximately $8 million
12:57
in today's economy. This impressive valuation did not even include the numerous properties she owned throughout
13:04
the Harlem neighborhood. As Stephanie's empire expanded, she wielded substantial
13:09
influence. She had numerous law enforcement officers on her payroll which allowed her to exert control and
13:15
influence over the system. However, with the end of the prohibition era in 1933,
13:22
traditional Jewish and Italian crime families began to feel frustrated with diminishing profits. In response, they
13:29
sought to infiltrate Harlem and seize control of the lucrative numbers game business. Dutch Schultz, a notorious
13:35
crime boss, spearheaded this takeover. Schultz was primarily based in the northern part of New York City and was
13:42
undeniably one of the most prominent mobsters of his time. His bootlegging operation was worth approximately $2
13:49
million, equivalent to around $35 million in today's currency. However, he
13:55
coveted a piece of the $50 million in annual turnover generated by the numbers racket businesses in Harlem. In the
14:01
initial stages of the incursion, Schultz dispatched word across town, presenting the owners of the numbers racket
14:08
establishments with two options. They could either relinquish their authority and work under his umbrella, or risk
14:14
losing their businesses entirely. Facing a difficult decision, most of these
14:19
business owners realized they could not compete head-to-head with Dutch Schultz and reluctantly agreed to his terms. In
14:27
return, Schultz paid each of them a weekly basic salary of $200. However,
14:33
amidst this wave of acquiescence, the only female numbers runner in Harlem,
14:38
Stephanie Sinclair, and her chief enforcer, Bumpy Johnson, stood their ground. At just 26 years old, Johnson
14:46
led a small but courageous team in a determined war against one of the most established criminal gangs of that era.
14:52
Bumpy Johnson's deeply ingrained childhood resentment towards white individuals served as an additional
14:58
driving force in his relentless battle against Dutch Schultz and his associates. In a subsequent interview
15:04
regarding the conflict, Bumpy's wife, my Johnson, disclosed that her husband and
15:09
his team of nine waged a guerilla war against Dutch Schultz and his men. While
15:14
Schultz had the advantage of a larger squad, most of his members were white, making them conspicuous in Harlem's
15:20
predominantly black community. In contrast, Bumpy's team could effectively blend in and operate covertly. Over the
15:28
next 3 years, this gang war saw more than 40 individuals killed or kidnapped.
15:33
Despite Schultz and his crew possessing superior firepower, they struggled to crush Stephanie Sinclair's empire.
15:39
Thanks to the unwavering determination of Bumpy Johnson and his fearless men. However, at a certain point, something
15:47
had to give. Surprisingly, it was Schultz who capitulated first. In
15:52
October 1935, the notorious crime boss met his demise at the hands of gunmen.
15:58
While many might have assumed that Stephanie St. Clair and Bumpy Johnson were behind Schultz's murder, that was
16:04
not the case. Concurrent with the gang war, Schultz had been under federal investigation for multiple tax evasion
16:10
cases. And realizing he was on the verge of conviction, he decided to eliminate Thomas Dwey, the prosecuting attorney
16:17
handling his trial. To proceed with his plan, Schultz needed permission from Lucky Luciano, the head of the Italian
16:24
crime family in New York. Luchiano, however, denied the request, fearing it
16:29
could trigger significant reprisals from the authorities. Desperate to avoid imprisonment, Schultz
16:35
proceeded with his plan against Luciano's wishes. Unfortunately, Luciano
16:40
learned of Schultz's disobedience and approved his assassination. On October 23rd, 1935, Schultz sustained
16:48
a gunshot wound just below the heart while using the bathroom at Newark's Palace Chop House restaurant. The injury
16:55
was severe, but Schultz clung to life for another 22 hours before passing away. Even on his deathbed, Schultz
17:03
managed to stir up controversy. He reportedly offered his doctor $10,000 to
17:08
cover the cost of treatment. Fearing the consequences of accepting money from the notorious mobster, the doctor declined
17:15
the generous offer. In the final moments of his life, Dutch Schultz received a chilling message from Stephanie
17:21
Sinclair, who conveyed the words, "As ye sow, so shall you reap." In response,
17:28
Schultz seemed to mutter the phrase, "A boy has never wept nor dashed a thousand kin." "You can play jacks, and girls do
17:35
that with a softball and do tricks with it. Oh, dog biscuit. And when he is happy, he doesn't get snappy." Following
17:42
Schultz's demise, Bumpy Johnson and Lucky Luciano reached a significant agreement. This arrangement allowed the
17:49
Harlem lottery houses to maintain their independence while contributing a portion of their profits to the Italian
17:55
crime boss. While it wasn't a perfect solution, especially considering Johnson's
18:01
aversion to white individuals, it was a fair compromise given the formidable opponent he faced in Charles Lucky
18:07
Luciano. Nicknamed the godfather of organized crime in the United States. Lucky
18:14
Luciano was born on November 24th, 1897 in Sicily, Italy. A decade after his
18:20
birth, Luciano's father, Antonio Lucania, decided to relocate the family from Lara Fredi, Sicily to the Lower
18:28
East Side of Manhattan in New York City. At the time, this area had become a popular destination for Italian families
18:35
seeking better opportunities in the United States. However, these opportunities often came at a steep
18:42
price. New York City was viewed as an economic hub where Italian families could earn a
18:48
legitimate living, but it was also the epicenter of criminal activity in the country. Luciano's parents worked
18:55
tirelessly to provide for their family, but the pervasive influence of crime on the streets of Manhattan meant that
19:02
their children were constantly at risk of being lured into criminal gangs. In Luciano's case, he dropped out of school
19:09
at the age of 14 to work as a hat delivery boy, earning a meager $7 per
19:14
week. Despite the modest income, one might have assumed it was sufficient for a young boy like Lucky Luciano. However,
19:22
this was not the case. After winning a life-changing sum of $244 in a street
19:27
dice game, Luciano decided it was time to quit his job as a hat delivery boy.
19:33
He believed there were far easier ways to make money on the streets of New York. By his early teenage years,
19:39
Luciano exhibited the bravado of a seasoned adult criminal. Lucky Luciano's involvement in criminal activities had
19:46
begun with petty crimes such as extortion, muggings, and theft. To make matters worse, he officially joined the
19:53
notorious Five Points gang and quickly progressed from being a petty criminal to dealing in heroine. However,
19:59
alongside his pension for criminality, Lutaniano had a strong interest in the art of accumulating wealth. Money was
20:06
the primary allure that drew him into a life of crime and became the driving force behind his actions and decisions.
20:13
After a brief incarceration for drugrelated offenses, Luchiano's fortunes took a turn when he was
20:18
recruited by Joe Maseria, a prominent street boss in Manhattan in 1920. Within
20:24
a few years, he rose to become Maseria's right-hand man, entrusted with overseeing the day-to-day operations on
20:30
behalf of his boss. During this time, the criminal enterprise was flourishing, leading to a relatively peaceful and
20:36
comfortable life for Lucky Luciano. However, the landscape dramatically shifted during the violent gang war of
20:43
the early 1930s. A significant dispute led Maseria to declare war on a rival
20:49
crime family under Salvator Maranzano. Luchiano along with other foot soldiers
20:55
of Maseria's crime family was reluctantly drawn into the conflict. This turn of events did not sit well
21:01
with Luchiano and his associates as it attracted unnecessary attention and more
21:06
importantly resulted in significant profit losses. Luchiano decided to take
21:12
matters into his own hands and devised a plan to resolve the issue. His first
21:17
step was to set a trap for his own boss Joe Maseria. This plan came to fruition on April
21:24
15th, 1931 when Luciano invited Joe Miseria to a restaurant in Coney Island.
21:30
During their meal, Luciano excused himself to visit the restroom. As Miseria continued dining, four of
21:37
Luciano's most trusted and loyal associates entered the restaurant and assassinated Miseria. The hit squad
21:43
comprised Vto Genovves, Albert Anastasia, Joe Adonis, and Bugsy Seagull. Five months later, Luciano
21:50
hired four Jewish gunmen to eliminate Salvatore Maranzano, effectively ending
21:56
the conflict between the two rival gangs. This move allowed Luciano and other young rakateeers to return to a
22:02
semblance of normaly in their lives. Due to his unwavering courage and influence in the criminal underworld, Luciano was
22:10
seen as the natural successor to the throne left vacant by the deaths of Joe Maseria and Salvator Marenzano. Lucky
22:17
Luciano never officially embraced the title, but most individuals within the mafia family regarded him as the deacto
22:24
boss of all bosses. In the years following the demise of his former boss,
22:30
Luciano embarked on a reconsideration of the mafia's operational methods. While
22:35
acknowledging that violence had been a significant contributing factor to the mafia's success, he also believed in
22:42
running the business efficiently without the need for bloodshed. Lutaniano called
22:47
for a meeting of American Italian crime bosses in Chicago which included four of the most prominent criminal gang leaders
22:54
in New York and the legendary Al Capone. In this unprecedented gathering,
22:59
Luchiano restructured the regional crime groups into five distinct mafia families. Each family was expected to
23:06
operate under the authority of a regional boss and adhere to a uniform code of honor known as Omea. This novel
23:13
structure allowed each mafia family to operate autonomously while maintaining the central interest. Most importantly,
23:20
it helped to prevent violent clashes among the families. Following this meeting, a period of significant peace
23:26
and stability prevailed within the mafia. Around this time, Luchiano endorsed the independence of Harlem's
23:33
lottery houses, albeit retaining indirect control over the region through Bumpy Johnson. However, Karma was slowly
23:41
catching up with both men. By 1935, special prosecutor Thomas Dwey had
23:47
amassed ample evidence of Luciano's involvement in illicit prostitution rackets and extortion activities.
23:54
One year later, Luciano was found guilty on 63 counts and sentenced to 30 years
23:59
in prison. Despite his incarceration, he continued to oversee the activities of the mafia family from behind bars until
24:07
he was eventually granted a pardon and deported to Italy in 1946.
24:12
Simultaneously, rapid changes were unfolding in the Harlem crime scene. Stephanie Sinclair made the decision to
24:19
step away from her criminal empire, passing the torch to Bumpy Johnson. Under Johnson's leadership, the business
24:26
evolved from being a numbers racket and extortion enterprise into a comprehensive criminal organization
24:31
involved in narcotics, prostitution, gambling, and protection rackets. Bumpy
24:37
Johnson effectively dominated the Harlem crime community for several years. In 1951, Bumpy Johnson found himself in
24:45
legal trouble and was arrested. Based on the evidence presented during his trial,
24:50
Johnson was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. For a significant portion of his sentence, Johnson was
24:56
incarcerated at Alcatraz, the maximum security prison located on a remote island off the coast of California,
25:04
famously known as the Rock. This facility was renowned for being one of the most secure prisons in the United
25:10
States and the world. Being held at Alcatraz was considered one of the harshest punishments a criminal could
25:17
endure. This reputation wasn't solely due to the stern demeanor of the prison guards or the frequent use of solitary
25:24
confinement. Alcatraz had a capacity to house between 300 and 450 inmates. Yet,
25:30
it was widely reported that the facility never held more than 250 prisoners at any given time. Notorious criminals such
25:38
as Al Capone, George Kelly, and Robert Straoud also spent periods of their criminal lives in this unforgiving
25:44
environment. What set Alcatraz apart was its isolated location on an island in
25:50
the middle of San Francisco Bay. This meant that any inmate housed there was completely cut off from the outside
25:57
world. Furthermore, the island was surrounded by treacherous waters with strong currents and chilly temperatures
26:04
around 16° C. In essence, Alcatraz was an almost inescapable prison. However, a
26:11
few bold individuals attempted to break free from the facility. A total of 36
26:16
men tried 14 different escape attempts at Alcatraz. Many of them were either captured or killed during their
26:22
attempts. It is widely believed that those who managed to evade the guard's attention likely did not survive the
26:28
treacherous waters to reach the shore. In May 1946, chaos erupted at Alcatraz when a group
26:35
of inmates overpowered prison guards taking possession of firearms and keys.
26:41
This led to a fierce gun battle between the inmates and the guards, resulting in the deaths of three escapees and two
26:47
security guards. The situation could have escalated even further if not for the intervention of the US Marines. Fast
26:55
forward to June 1962. The mysterious disappearance of Frank Morris, John
27:00
Angland, and his brother Clarence from their cell room at Alcatraz left investigators baffled. Subsequent
27:08
investigations revealed multiple clues that indicated the escape plan was meticulously crafted and perfected over
27:14
a period of 6 months. They expanded the ventilation ducts using makeshift drills and other household tools. And then they
27:21
constructed a makeshift boat measuring 6x14 ft using 50 raincoats. Despite 17
27:28
years of investigation by the FBI, no credible evidence could be found to confirm that any of these men
27:34
successfully made it off the island alive. Unverified reports have suggested
27:39
that Bumpy Johnson may have been involved in this audacious escape mission. However, his wife asserted that
27:46
he chose not to join the escapees because he preferred to be a free man rather than a fugitive. Upon completing
27:54
his prison sentence, Bumpy Johnson returned to Harlem only to find a marketkedly different society than the
28:00
one he left behind. Drug trading had become rampant, and the influence of mafia families had grown even more
28:07
pronounced than during Johnson's time as a godfather. Despite being one of the pioneers of
28:13
illegal activities in Harlem, Bumpy Johnson decided to turn a new leaf and began advocating for the civil rights of
28:19
black Americans in the community. It was during this period that he reconnected with Malcolm X, an old friend and a
28:26
powerful community leader and civil rights activist. In the early stages of his advocacy career, Malcolm X was
28:33
affiliated with a Chicago-based black Muslim movement led by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm emerged as one
28:41
of the most eloquent and influential voices within the organization. He traveled extensively across the United
28:47
States and other countries, delivering inspirational lectures. Malcolm X's exceptional intelligence and oratory
28:54
skills earned him the admiration of prominent figures. At one point, the civil rights activist developed a close
29:01
relationship with the legendary Muhammad Ali. However, his growing influence began to pose a challenge to the
29:07
leadership of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, his mentor at the time. The breaking point between the two men
29:14
occurred in November 1963 following the assassination of President John F.
29:19
Kennedy. After the incident, Elijah Muhammad ordered his followers to refrain from discussing the matter, even
29:26
restricting them from speaking about it. However, Malcolm X disregarded this directive when he characterized the
29:32
president's assassination as the devil's chickens coming home to roost. Elijah
29:38
Muhammad responded by suspending Malcolm X for 90 days. Malcolm X's suspension
29:43
from the Black Muslim movement didn't appear to deter him from expressing his controversial views. A few months after
29:50
the suspension was announced, Malcolm X reiterated his stance in an interview with journalists. He clarified that when
29:57
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 incensed by this statement, and it was
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clear that tensions were escalating. The civil rights leader began receiving death threats. And when asked about the
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reason for these threats, he openly admitted the underlying issue. Malcolm X
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revealed that the head of the movement 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 severed ties with the Honorable Elijah
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Muhammad. He was prepared for the 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. Johnson and his gang handled security
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matters, allowing Malcolm X to continue 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 Wells restaurant in Harlem, he suddenly
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clutched his chest and collapsed. 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 given the life he had led, not many had
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expected Bumpy Johnson to meet a natural death.