| Ellsworth Raymond Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 31, 1905 Charleston, South Carolina |
| Died | July 7, 1968 (aged 62) New York City |
| Alias(es) | Bumpy |
| Occupation | Drug Lord |
| Spouse | Mayme Hatcher Johnson |
| Parents | Margaret Moultrie 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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Early life
Johnson was born in Charleston, South Carolina on October 31, 1905. His parents sent him to Harlem as a youth to live with his sister Mabel in a railroad flat on 150th Street and Seventh Avenue. He was given the nickname "Bumpy" because of a large bump on the back of his head.
Criminal career
Johnson was an associate of 'numbers' (an illegal lottery operation) queen Stephanie St. Clair.[2] He was one of the leading criminals in Harlem to fight a 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.[citation needed]
Johnson was arrested more than 40 times and would eventually serve three prison terms for narcotics-related charges. 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].
Death
He died on June 7, 1968 at Wells Restaurant in Harlem from a heart attack.[1][4].
Johnson in popular media
- In an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, it is reported that Johnson allegedly helped the three escapees of Alcatraz get to the shores of San Francisco. It is said that he arranged for a boat to pick the three men up out of the bay. The boat then dropped the escapees off at Pier 13 in San Francisco's Hunters Point District.
- Moses Gunn portrayed "Bumpy Jonas" a character based upon Johnson in the 1971 film Shaft.
- 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 1984 film The Cotton Club.
- Johnson was portrayed by Clarence Williams III in the 2007 film American Gangster as the mentor of Frank Lucas.[5] Williams had previously appeared in the film Hoodlum as a rival of Johnson's, in the employ of Dutch Schultz.
- Bumpy gets a mention in 'The Wire' Season 3 Episode 2 written by Richard Price just before Omar robs one of Avon Barksdale's stash houses. Two low level gangsters discuss an incident when Bumpy allegedly attacked a police station single handedly. This is expanded upon in Richard Price's Audio Commentary for that Episode.
- Johnson is mentioned in Marvel Comics’ Punisher Noir #2 as the employer of Barracuda, a hitman who killed the Punisher’s father (though his name is misspelled “Bumby”).
References
- ^ a b Lloyd Strayhorn (2004). "The "Numbers" Game in Harlem". http://www.numbersandyou.com/default.asp?S=E3&Document=Harlem&NID=2302948. Retrieved 2008-04-09. "On early Sunday morning of July 7, 1968, Bumpy Johnson, still a popular figure in Harlem, was in the famed Wells Restaurant on the corner of 132nd St. and Seventh Avenue, known for it’s “chicken and waffles”. Dining with an old friend, Junie Byrd, Bumpy suffered a heart seizure around 1:34am. Byrd, a waiter and others attempted to help him breathe, but he fell unconscious. Bumpy was rushed to Harlem Hospital where he arrived, DOA. He died at age 62 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery."
- ^ "Queenie and Bumpy". crimelibrary. 2007. http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/gang/harlem_gangs/5.html. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
- ^ John H. Johnson. Fact not fiction in Harlem (1980 ed.). Northern Type Printing, Inc. p. 119. ISBN B00072X07G.p.103+
- ^ "Bumpy Johnson, 62, Gambler, Is Dead". New York Times. June 10, 1968. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0812FC3854157493C2A8178CD85F4C8685F9. Retrieved 2009-02-25. "The funeral of Ellsworth R. (Bumpy) Johnson, a Harlem underworld figure, will be held tomorrow at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 122d Street and Lenox Avenue."
- ^ "American Gangster full credits on IMDB". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765429/fullcredits#cast.
External links
- Hoodlum (1997) at the Internet Movie Database
- The Cotton Club (1984) at the Internet Movie Database
- American Gangster (2007) at the Internet Movie Database
- Ellsworth Raymond Johnson at Find A Grave
- Infinite MagaZine Harlem Godfather Bumpy Johnson pt.1 Harlem Godfather pt.2 Youtube documentary
- John H. Johnson. Fact not fiction in Harlem (1980 ed.). Northern Type Printing, Inc. p. 119. ISBN B00072X07G.
- Mayme Hatcher Johnson. Harlem Godfather: The Rap on my Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson (when ed.). Oshun Publishing Company, Inc.; First edition (February 29, 2008). p. 248. ISBN 0967602831.
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