Harlem gangster

Godfather of Harlem is an American crime drama television series that premiered on September 29,on Epix. Chris Brancato acts as showrunner. On February 12,harlem gangster, the series was renewed for a second season; which premiered on April 18,

Here at The Root , we have no patience. The show is extremely underrated and takes an interesting look at the life of Black New York City gangster Bumpy Johnson. Before you binge-watch the excellent series over the Holiday weekend, check out some facts about the real-life Bumpy Johnson. Bumpy did not move to Harlem until when he was sent to live with his older sister Mabel. The two were friends since the s, while Malcolm X, previously known as Malcolm Little, was a street hustler. Bumpy would protect Malcolm after he split with the Nation of Islam. Known as a fashionable and smart man, Bumpy had friendships with popular celebrities such as singer Billie Holiday and superstar boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.

Harlem gangster

Upon his return, Johnson finds much has changed in Harlem during his time away. He jokes that the only thing that remains is the famous Apollo Theater. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Giancarlo Esposito. Here is the true story behind Godfather of Harlem. Ellsworth Raymond Johnson was born in Charleston, S. He went on to move in with his sister in Harlem when he was a teenager. Johnson spent much of his 20s in and out of prison, but truly made a name for himself in the s when he began working for the Harlem mob boss Stephanie St. As St. Over the years, Johnson expanded to the narcotics trade and was eventually crowned the kingpin of Harlem. Although Johnson was known to be a brutal gangster, he still portrayed himself as a man of the people, often giving back to his community. He was also known for his skills in chess.

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Clair, and later did business with Italian mobster Charles "Lucky" Luciano. Johnson would go on to mentor Frank Lucas, who would take over Harlem's operations and turn it into a haven for drug trafficking. He was given the nickname "Bumpy" due to an abnormal growth on his head. After his older brother was wanted for the murder of a white man, a year-old Johnson, along with most of his other siblings, was sent to Harlem for safety. Despite moving up north, there was no avoiding the scourge of racism, and Johnson, with his small frame and thick Southern accent, was a target for bullying. However, Johnson's bad temper kept him from being a hapless victim, and starting at an early age, he learned how to be a scrappy fighter. Through Hewlett, Johnson became a highly regarded bodyguard for high-rolling illegal gamblers in Harlem.

A gangster named Bumpy Johnson makes his way in Harlem during the s. Sign In Sign In. New Customer? Create account. Episode guide.

Harlem gangster

By Alan Sepinwall. The caliber of the cast — and the fact that so many of them are actors of color, when most of this territory in cable and streaming is still covered by white men — distinguishes the material to a degree. But Forest Whitaker is a striking, dangerous presence no matter how familiar the material. The creators carefully dole out his remarkable onscreen temper — and give us plenty of time with him playing gentle papa to young daughter Margaret Demi Singleton as contrast to his criminal work — so that it has extra impact when it hits. And the soundtrack, curated by Swizz Beatz, deftly mixes period tunes and a few new songs meant to sound like Sixties soul with original hip-hop. The more modern tracks can break the illusion of a bygone Harlem that the production works so hard to create, but it functions on the level of myth, and the show can feel almost as much like folklore as it does like historical fiction. Malcolm is much more prominent in this telling, even if he and Bumpy are mostly working at cross purposes, particularly when it comes to their goals for Elise Antoinette Crowe-Legacy , a young addict with whom Bumpy was once close. But the show also points out how aware Bumpy is of the limits of his power and infamy.

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Archived from the original on On February 12, , the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on April 18, See production info at IMDbPro. Chazz Palminteri Joe Bonanno. With a rap sheet of over 40 arrests in his lifetime, Johnson found himself under the watchful eye of authorities. The website's critical consensus reads: "As sharply dressed as it is smartly written, Godfather of Harlem walks familiar blocks to its own beat and makes a strong first impression. He is shown to be more than willing to team up with Johnson to his advantage. Featured review. Malcolm X claims that Johnson was the person who set him towards the path of Islam before he went to jail when he was at his lowest point of addiction. Ellsworth Raymond Johnson was born in Charleston, S.

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TIME Logo. Here at The Root , we have no patience. It was said he was surrounded by confidants and died in the arms of his childhood friend, Junie Byrd. Download as PDF Printable version. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Retrieved 26 September Featured review. January 22, Organized crime in America: a book of readings. But it was all discovered to be a long con to avoid jail time, and in the s he was sent to federal prison on racketeering and conspiracy charges. Prohibition documentary miniseries. October 27, In , was sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug conspiracy.