15 Gangsta Things About Bumpy Johnson, the Real Godfather of Harlem

Although he’s known as the “Godfather of Harlem” Ellsworth Raymond Johnson was born in Charleston, South Carolina on Oct. 31 in 1905.

Johnson’s nickname, “Bumpy” came from the bump that appeared on the back of his head.

Bumpy did not move to Harlem until 1919 when he was sent to live with his older sister Mabel.

The two were friends since the 1940s, 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.

Despite being involved in crime, Bumpy was known to always be willing to help out less fortunate members of the community.

Bumpy would often lecture younger children in the neighborhood about taking their studies seriously instead of turning to a life of crime.

Bumpy became an associate of Madame Stephanie St. Clair, a brilliant “numbers” queen during the early 1930s. He also started a war against mob boss Dutch Schultz, which led to dozens of murders and kidnappings.

Bumpy was so infamous for his criminal behavior that his actions would be reported in the popular black magazine, Jet.

Although Bumpy was a legendary crime boss, he definitely saw time behind bars. In 1952, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug conspiracy. He spent most of his sentence in San Francisco Bay, Calif. at the infamous Alcatraz Prison.

After serving his time in Alcatraz, Bumpy was met with a parade when he returned to Harlem after being released on parole in 1963. The godfather was back home.

Bumpy was also stubborn. After he was arrested in December 1965, he staged a sit-down demonstration at a local police station where he refused to leave. He was eventually charged with “refusal to leave a police station” and was later released. Not something you hear about too often.

Bumpy had a criminal history about as long as a receipt. Throughout his time as a criminal, he was sent to prison on two separate occasions and arrested more than three dozen times.

Although many criminal bosses of the time died from a hail of bullets, Bumpy died of congestive heart failure on July 7, 1968, at the age of 62 while having breakfast.

Bumpy died in 1968, but his wife, Mayme Hatcher, whom he married in October 1948, lived until May 2009. A year before her death, she wrote a book titled Harlem Godfather: The Rap on My Husband, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, which inspired the story for Godfather of Harlem.