Bumpy Johnson

Who Was Bumpy Johnson?

Born on October 31, 1905, Ellsworth Raymond “Bumpy” Johnson emerged as a prominent American crime boss in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Initially coming to power under the influence of racket boss Stephanie St. Clair, he later forged a significant business relationship with Italian mobster Charles “Lucky” Luciano. Johnson ultimately mentored Frank Lucas, who succeeded him and transformed Harlem into a hub of drug trafficking.

Early Life and Criminal Beginnings

Johnson was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and received his nickname “Bumpy” due to an abnormal growth on his head. Following a violent incident involving his older brother, who was wanted for the murder of a white man, a 10-year-old Johnson, along with several siblings, was relocated to Harlem for safety.

Upon arriving in Harlem, Johnson faced the harsh realities of racism. His small stature and thick Southern accent made him a target for bullying. However, his volatile temper allowed him to defend himself, and he quickly learned to become a formidable fighter.

A high school dropout, Johnson held various odd jobs and became associated with a dubious crowd, attracting the attention of gangster William “Bub” Hewlett. Through this connection, Johnson became a respected bodyguard for high-stakes illegal gamblers in Harlem. However, his involvement in criminal activities, including burglary and pimping, eventually led to a decade-long prison sentence.

Bumpy Johnson and the Queen

By the age of 30, Johnson had spent a significant portion of his life behind bars. His return to society in 1932 found him broke and unemployed. It was during this time that he encountered powerful Harlem crime boss Stephanie St. Clair, also known as “Madam Queen” or “Queen of the Policy Rackets.” St. Clair took Johnson under her wing, leveraging his skills as her bodyguard and chief enforcer in a brutal war against rival crime bosses, most notably Dutch Schultz.

In her 2008 biography, Harlem Godfather: The Rap on My Husband, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, Johnson’s wife, Mayme Hatcher, described how Johnson and his crew engaged in guerrilla warfare against Schultz’s associates, making effective use of their knowledge of the Harlem landscape. Despite their efforts, the war against the mob was ultimately futile; Schultz and his gang had the law on their side and dominated the illegal gambling scene.

However, Schultz’s deceptive financial practices created rifts within his organization, leading to his assassination in 1935 on the orders of Luciano. With Schultz out of the picture and St. Clair seeking to evade law enforcement, she entrusted her business operations to Johnson. In this new alliance, Johnson gained control over Harlem’s rackets while sharing profits with Luciano’s crew, which later became known as the Genovese crime family.

Godfather of Harlem

Despite the community’s fear of Johnson, many held him in high regard. Often likened to a Robin Hood figure, Johnson provided for the most vulnerable members of Harlem, distributing free turkeys during Thanksgiving and delivering meals and gifts to those in need.

Alcatraz

In 1951, Johnson was sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiring to sell heroin in New York, spending a significant portion of his term at Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay, California. He was released in 1963, five years before his death.

With a criminal record that included over 40 arrests, Johnson remained under constant surveillance by law enforcement. Frustrated by their scrutiny, he staged a sit-in protest at a police station in 1965, leading to a charge for refusing to leave, although he was later acquitted.

Movies, TV, and Portrayals in Hollywood

Johnson’s life story, characterized by his criminal exploits, philanthropy, and penchant for flashy attire and poetry, captured the attention of Hollywood. He has been depicted in various films, including The Cotton Club (1994), The Hoodlum (1997), and American Gangster (2007). Additionally, Forest Whitaker portrayed him in the 2019 television series The Godfather of Harlem.

Death

Bumpy Johnson passed away from a heart attack while dining on soul food at a Harlem restaurant in the early hours of July 7, 1968. He was reportedly surrounded by close confidants and died in the arms of his childhood friend, Junie Byrd.

Personal Life

Johnson married Mayme Hatcher in 1948. Born in North Carolina in 1914 (though some sources state 1915), Hatcher moved to New York in 1938, where she worked as a waitress and later as a hostess. The couple met shortly after Johnson’s release from a decade-long prison sentence and married three months later. Hatcher passed away in 2009, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with that of her husband.