Ellsworth Johnson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ellsworth Raymond Johnson | |
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| Born | Oct 31, 1905[1] Charleston, South Carolina |
| Died | July 7, 1968 (aged 62) [1] New York City |
| Alias(es) | Bumpy |
| Occupation | Former drug lord |
| Spouse | Mayme Hatcher Johnson |
| Parents | Margaret Moultrie and William Johnson[1] |
Ellsworth Raymond "Bumpy" Johnson (October 31, 1905 - July 7, 1968) was an American gangster in New York City's Harlem neighborhood in the early 20th century.
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[edit] Bio
Johnson was from Charleston, S.C. and moved to Harlem with his parents as a youth. He was given the nickname "Bumpy" because of a large bump on the back of his head.
Johnson was an associate of mob boss Stephanie St. Clair.[2] He was one of the leading criminals in Harlem to fight an unsuccessful war against Dutch Schultz, who incorporated the city's organized crime into the Jewish and Italian mobs of the day. He was later hired as an enforcer by the Genovese crime family to protect Mafia operations in black neighborhoods against local criminals, and even met Charlie "Lucky" Luciano more than once during his time.
Johnson was arrested more than 40 times and would eventually serve three prison terms for narcotics-related charges. Once in December 1965, Johnson staged a sit-down strike in a police station, refusing to leave, as a protest against their continued surveillance. He was charged with "refusal to leave a police station" but was acquitted by a judge.[3]
[edit] Death
Bumpy died while dining at Wells Restaurant, New York, on the corner of 132nd St. and Seventh Avenue which is known for its fried chicken and waffles.[4] At the time of his death Bumpy's driving license was suspended so he had his friend Junie Byrd as his driver.[4] Frank Lucas claimed to be with Bumpy at his death, but Johnson's widow disputes this account and claims Lucas has exaggerated his relationship with Johnson.[5] She claims he died in the arms of his childhood friend, Junie Byrd - not Lucas.[4] At the time of his death, Johnson's case was pending for another narcotics violation that could have earned him a possible fourth prison term. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. The headline in the New York Amsterdam News read at the time: BUMPY’S DEATH MARKS END OF AN ERA. [1]
[edit] Bumpy in popular media
- Moses Gunn loosely portrayed the gangster in the film Shaft as Bumpy Jonas.
- The struggle between Bumpy Johnson and Dutch Schultz was portrayed in the film Hoodlum, directed by Bill Duke. In the film, released on August 27, 1997, Johnson is portrayed by Laurence Fishburne.
- Fishburne previously played a character based on Bumpy Johnson, "Bumpy Rhodes," in the film The Cotton Club, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and released on December 10, 1984.
- He was also portrayed by Clarence Williams III in the 2007 Ridley Scott film American Gangster as the mentor of Frank Lucas.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Lloyd Strayhorn (2004). The "Numbers" Game in Harlem (HTML). pub. Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ Queenie and Bumpy (HTML). crimelibrary (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ John H. Johnson. Fact not fiction in Harlem, 1980, Northern Type Printing, Inc, 119. ISBN B00072X07G.p.103+
- ^ a b c JENICE M. ARMSTRONG. "The real rap on Bumpy", Philadelphia Daily News, 2007-11-05.
- ^ Mayme Hatcher Johnson. Harlem Godfather: The Rap on my Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, when, Oshun Publishing Company, Inc.; First edition (February 29, 2008), 248. ISBN 0967602831.
- ^ American Gangster full credits on IMDB.
[edit] External links
- Shaft (1971) at the Internet Movie Database
- Hoodlum (1997) at the Internet Movie Database
- The Cotton Club (1984) at the Internet Movie Database
- American Gangster (2007) at the Internet Movie Database
- Harlemgodfather.com, biographical info by Johnson's widow, Mayme Hatcher Johnson
- Ellsworth Raymond Johnson at Find A Grave
- John H. Johnson. Fact not fiction in Harlem, 1980, Northern Type Printing, Inc, 119. ISBN B00072X07G.
- Mayme Hatcher Johnson. Harlem Godfather: The Rap on my Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, when, Oshun Publishing Company, Inc.; First edition (February 29, 2008), 248. ISBN 0967602831.
