Bumpy Johnson
Harlem crime boss who built his own organization after the Mafia war.
Ellsworth Raymond "Bumpy" Johnson, born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1905, became a leading crime boss in Harlem, New York City. His nickname came from a bump on the back of his head. As a child, his family sent his older brother north after he was accused of killing a white man, fearing a lynching. Johnson himself was sent to live with his sister in Harlem in 1919 due to his short temper and insolence toward white people. He left high school, worked odd jobs, and was noticed by gangster William Hewett, for whom he began working.
Johnson rose to become an enforcer and trusted associate for numbers queen Madame Stephanie St. Clair. During the 1930s, she waged a war with rival mob boss Dutch Schultz for control of Harlem’s rackets, resulting in over forty murders and several kidnappings. After St. Clair’s imprisonment, Johnson struck a deal with the Mafia following Schultz’s 1935 murder, building his own organization in exchange for favorable business deals. He was arrested more than forty times and served two prison terms for narcotics charges. In 1952, he was sentenced to fifteen years for heroin conspiracy, serving most of it at Alcatraz as inmate No. 1117 until his parole in 1963. In 1965, he staged a sit-down strike at a Harlem police station to protest surveillance of Black neighborhoods, but was acquitted of refusing to leave.
Johnson married Mayme Hatcher in 1948 and had two daughters, one from another relationship. He died of a heart attack in 1968 at Wells Restaurant in Harlem, shortly after being served coffee, chicken, and hominy grits. He was under federal indictment for drug conspiracy at the time. His character has appeared in films such as *Shaft*, *The Cotton Club*, *Hoodlum*, and *American Gangster*, and he is the main character of the television series *Godfather of Harlem*.
- died
- July 7, 1968, Harlem, New York City
- field
- Organized crime
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Harlem crime boss; associate of Madame Stephanie St. Clair; subject of the TV series Godfather of Harlem
Lore & Background
At age 10, his older brother Willie was accused of killing a white man, prompting his parents to mortgage their home to send Willie north. Johnson's nickname 'Bumpy' came from a bump on the back of his head. Clair. In the 1930s, he climbed the ranks to become her most trusted soldier. St. Clair incited a war with rival mob boss Dutch Schultz for control of Harlem's rackets, resulting in more than 40 murders and several kidnappings. The war ended with St. Clair's arrest and imprisonment. After Schultz's 1935 murder, Johnson struck a deal with the Mafia, building his own organization in exchange for favorable business deals. He was arrested more than 40 times and served two prison terms for narcotics charges.
Reader's Guide
Bumpy Johnson’s significance is rooted in his long career as a Harlem crime boss who rose from enforcer to leader during a period of violent upheaval. He began as a trusted associate of numbers queen Madame Stephanie St. Clair, becoming her most loyal soldier in a war against rival mob boss Dutch Schultz that resulted in over forty murders and several kidnappings. After Schultz’s murder, Johnson struck a deal with the Mafia, building his own organization in Harlem in exchange for favorable business arrangements. His behavior included a pattern of frequent arrests—more than forty in total—and two prison terms for narcotics charges. He served the bulk of a fifteen-year sentence at Alcatraz, where he was inmate number 1117, and was released on parole in 1963. In 1965, he staged a sit-down strike at a Harlem police station, refusing to leave to protest surveillance of black neighborhoods, and was acquitted of the charge. Johnson’s death in 1968 occurred while he was under federal indictment for drug conspiracy. His life illustrates the complex racial and economic dynamics of organized crime in mid-20th-century Harlem, where black gangsters operated under the authority of Italian-American syndicates while maintaining local influence.
Did You Know?
- Johnson's nickname 'Bumpy' came from a bump on the back of his head.
- He died of a heart attack at Wells Restaurant in Harlem after being served coffee, a chicken leg, and hominy grits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Bumpy Johnson's role in organized crime?
He initially worked as an enforcer under numbers queen Madame Stephanie St. Clair before breaking away to lead his own independent Harlem crime organization. His operation centered on controlling the numbers racket and other illicit businesses throughout the neighborhood.
How did Bumpy Johnson rise to power in Harlem?
The disruption caused by the Mafia wars created a power vacuum that Johnson exploited to shake off St. Clair's authority and establish himself as an independent operator. He then built his own network of associates and cemented his grip on Harlem's criminal landscape.
Why is Bumpy Johnson considered important in crime history?
He is widely regarded as one of the most powerful African American gangsters of the mid-twentieth century, holding sway over Harlem's organized crime scene for years. His life and legacy were later dramatized in the television series Godfather of Harlem, introducing his story to a broad audience.
When and where did Bumpy Johnson die?
Johnson died on July 7, 1968, in Harlem, New York City, at the age of 62. His passing effectively closed a chapter in the neighborhood's long history of organized crime.
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