Part 1/9:
The Rise of Bumpy Johnson: Godfather of Harlem
Bumpy Johnson, whose real name was Ellsworth Raymond Johnson, has etched his name as one of the most influential gangsters in the history of the American underworld, particularly in Harlem. Active between the 1930s and 1960s, he ruled the streets with an iron fist, controlling illegal gambling operations and influencing criminal business dealings in Harlem. To do business in Harlem during this era meant getting in touch with Bumpy Johnson. His prominence was so significant that even the famed drug trafficker Frank Lucas acknowledged that anyone wanting to operate had to deal with Bumpy or risk dire consequences.