Bumpy Johnson: Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz took on Bumpy for control of Harlem!

one of the most famous gangsters in 20th century America bumpy Johnson's rise would see him extort shop owners to having Wars on the streets against violent gangsters such as Dutch Schulz eventually becoming known as The Godfather of Harlem who would control the major criminal activities as well as see himself support the poverty stricken people things would soon go downhill for bumpy though as law enforcement would finally start catching up with him for his association with the narcotics trade with him meeting his demise due to hard disease so what was life like for one of America's most notorious gangsters we don't like people like you oh really why is that our parents say that the white people are the best that's why best at what exactly well we are smarter than you then why am I the smartest kid in the neighborhood oh um well we are better at sports I don't really have time for stupid conversations growing up in South Carolina in the early 20th century racial tensions were high which would cause young Ellsworth Johnson later being known as bumpy to get into fights with other kids in the area something that would worry his parents bumpy you need to move out of South Carolina what why you're going to get into serious trouble one day with that temper of yours don't forget we had to get your brother out of town when he was accused of killing a white man well where can I go to you can live with your sister Mabel in Harlem Harlem 1919 would see Bumpy Johnson move to Harlem New York and live with his sister there he would earn money by sweeping streets and selling newspapers but slowly see himself being lured into the darker side of New York first by getting involved in gambling at the pool halls as he got older alongside his friends bumpy would get involved in extorting store owners for protection money one day William huet who had an established territory where he provided protection would come to learn that bumpy was already providing protection at a store that he wanted to extort I've just heard the most crazy thing today have you now yes I hear you are providing protection at that store across the street I am indeed you do know that this area is my territory don't you yes but did you know that that particular store is my territory is it now look I like the way you handle yourself how about we avoid the headache and do you just give me a cut of your profits I'd rather just have the headache admiring Bumpy's courage hulet would get him involved in his protection business where bumpy would work as a bodyguard this period would also see bumpy make money by conducting armed robberies eventually seeing himself thrown into jail for theft being released from prison in 1932 bumpy would find himself back on the streets of Harlem and would one day come across the leading numbers racketeer Stephanie stclair how about you come and work for me what do you need doing I need a bodyguard and word on the streets is that you're one of the best around do you have anyone after you at the moment that should be aware of there's always someone after me people want to muscle in on my numbers racket all the time the 1930s would see the end of prohibition criminals such as Dutch schz would make a fortune during prohibition with the illegal sale of alcohol and would one day meet with his accountant uto prohibition has ended and I now need a new way of making money ah Dutch I heard that there's this numbers racket going on in Harlem where people pay to enter this Lottery and all they need to do is choose three numbers with a chance to win how can that make me money well we can get kickbacks from all the proceeds in exchange for providing protection to the people and running the numbers record perfect let's get in on this moving in on the Harlem numbers racket led to Dutch Schultz coming across Stephanie stclair St Clair wasn't willing to pay shortz for protection and would go to war with him alongside Bumpy Johnson bumpy and his crew would deal with shortz's men on the streets while stclair would have the Press write articles on shorts in an attempt to turn everyone against him as well as provide the police with information on Schultz's illegal activities how's things on the streets against sh's men it's quite simple to tell you the truth really how so when these men who are all white are in our territory we can spot them easily and we just take them out oh that's good although schz didn't get in on St Clair's numbers racket in the end he did however muscle in on others who ran their own numbers racket in the area and made himself a lot of money think things would soon go downhill for Dutch shorts though during this period district attorney Thomas JY would look to Stamp Out organized crime and had Dutch Schultz on his radar upon finding this out Schultz would look to have Thomas jwy murdered the criminal bosses of New York such as Charles luy luchiano would decide that schz needed to be killed instead as to avoid attracting the attention of law enforcement to the mob's illegal activities should Thomas jwy be killed Dutch Schulz would end up getting shot in 193 and die the next day following this assassination attempt Stephanie stclair would also retire from the numbers rackets during this period and handed over her criminal Empire to bumpy you have quite a good setup here in Harlem with your numbers rets it seems to run really well when there isn't any outside interference is that so yes you must have heard of how we dealt with DOD Schultz on the streets when he tried to muscle in on us well you must have heard of how we dealt with Dutch shs too when he got in our way so you know that we mean business are you threatening me let's just say that we've noticed the numbers rackets here and think that it would be in your best interest to let us take over this meeting between Bumpy Johnson and lucky luano would see the pair agree to the Italian mafia getting a cut of the profits from the numbers racket rather than taking it over completely this time would also see bumpy become to be known as The Godfather of Harlem where he had control of all the major rackets and that no one was to start an illegal business in the area without notifying him first he would also be an endearing presence to the poverty-stricken people of Harlem where he was known to help support people financially going as far as giving out turkeys on Thanksgiving the people really love you here in Harlem you know sometimes it's good to give back to the community it sure is so what's next for you I hear that there's money to be made in selling narcotics narcotics do you really want to bring that to Harlem I won't to sell it myself I'll allow others to sell it here and I could just take a cut of their profits not sure bump that stuff will cause the downfall of Harlem what's the worst that can happen Bumpy's Venture into narcotics during this time in the 1950s would see him being landed a prison sentence in Alcatraz which was a prison for America's most notorious criminals with him being released in 1963 things have changed quite a bit in Harlem since I've been in prison they have indeed the Italian gangs have pretty much taken over everything have they yes what are you going to do now not sure yet have you heard Malcolm X has left the Nation of Islam has he Malcolm X a leading human rights activist had left the Nation of Islam and would suffer threats to his life during this period bumpy would offer protection to Malcolm X but knowing of Bumpy's criminal past his offer would be refused as Malcolm X didn't want to be seen as being associated with a Criminal Malcolm X would however be assassinated in Harlem during February in 1965 1968 would be the the last year of bumpy Johnson's life bumpy you're under indictment at the moment for narcotics distribution why are you so calm I'll be okay what's the worst that can happen um you said that before when you allowed others to sell narcotics in Harlem and then you got sent to alcat oh I did say that didn't I look let's try and be positive I want to enjoy eating my fried chicken during this meal on July 7th 1968 Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson would suddenly be seen clutching his chest and then collapse he would die at the age of 62

Channel: Mafiono

Views: 4,924

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Id: XZ0XRtidiKI

Length: 8min 6sec (486 seconds)

Published: Fri Jun 28 2024