Candice Martinez American Literature, Camden County College September 2010

Ellsworth Raymond Bumpy Johnson was born on Oct. 31, 1905 and lived until July 1968 (2). He was notoriously one of the most feared and respected gangsters in American history. Within his affiliated businesses, he was that of an underdog, due to the predominant racial discrimination at the time. He ran numbers, or an illegal lottery, during the Great Depression. Although Bumpy Johnson was an enforcer for the African-American Mob, he also served as an intermediary for the Jewish and Italian Mafias. As one could imagine, there was much distrust and racial discrimination between the African-American, Jewish and Italian Mafias during the 1930s. The story of their war reveals the appeal of Bumpy Johnson as he relentlessly protected his numbers business, thus proving he was a force not to be taken lightly. To correctly illustrate his persona and place in history, it is important to profile the other characters. After all, a gangsters role is defined by his or her enemies. Another important aspect of Johnson was his contradictive role in society. Although his fortune was made through illegal practices, he greatly served his community. Harlem admired the ruthlessly motivated Johnson. He was a rebel with a bad temper, who was always dressed in the latest fashion. This gained the attention of Madame St. Clair, who appointed him as oversight for her numbers business (4). Aside from aggression, Johnson was well educated in several academic areas, due to reading during prison time. He acquired a thorough knowledge of history, philosophy, literature and classical music. He
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Candice Martinez American Literature, Camden County College September 2010

had a taste for Shakespeare and chess; as well as a flare for writing poetry, which would come to be published during the Harlem Renaissance (1). Although he earned wealth through crime, his knowledge resulted from his own extensive studying. His understanding of and dislike for the system caused him to continue as a rebel unto his later years. In 1965, Johnson staged a sit-in at a police station in protest to his aggravating constant surveillance. Although, he was arrested and charged with failure to leave a police station, he was later acquitted. In 1968, a heart attack would claim his life. Johnson left behind more hallmarks than crime and literature. He was a philanthropist, who became known as The Robin Hood of Harlem (2). He often sponsored block parties and bus rides, as well as donate money to impoverished communities. Also, he was known to rent for people in danger of eviction. As an advocate for education, he often paid for childrens college tuitions (2). Johnson was fearless in his ways, but this created a duality entwined within him as he fought against other criminals and poverty. He was flashy, well rounded, caring, yet deadly. The system, nor the economy, was not going to take care of anyone during the Great Depression, thus Johnson generated his own system that he aggressively protected from infiltrators. Even his competitors could not help but respect him, and often requested his skilled services. He was not afraid to shoot or be shot, as long as Harlem benefited.
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Candice Martinez American Literature, Camden County College September 2010

Bumpy Johnson and his family moved from South Carolina to Harlem when he was a teenager (1). As time went on, he would come to spend half of his life in prison due to his violent demeanor. Upon being released after a bid, he needed to generate an income during The Great Depression. He would have to work illegal jobs outside of the system, which he was no stranger to doing. In the past, he had done everything from burglary to pimping. As fate would have it, he shortly found work running numbers for the African-American Mob boss Stephanie St. Clair, also known as Queenie or Madame St. Clair. She was a Black French immigrant to the United States, and was the leader of The Forty Thieves Gang in New York City (4). Johnson would become her commanding oversight for the numbers business. Within a short period of time, this new enforcer would exercise his power, and take the organization to war against Jewish mob boss Dutch Shultz (1). Dutch, otherwise known as Arthur Flegenheimer, claimed domination of the alcohol business in Harlem during Prohibition, thus earning the alias Beer Baron (2). While Shultz ran the liquor game, Madame St. Clairs game was running numbers, which Dutch was looking to impede upon. However, this attempt would prove immensely difficult once faced with Johnson. He was always well armed, and prone to become trigger happy (4). The bloody war between Dutch Shultz, Madame St. Clair and other crime syndicates would come to account for over forty murders. Eventually, Dutch would claim victor and take hold of the numbers business (1). Regardless, he still
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Candice Martinez American Literature, Camden County College September 2010

needed Bumpy as a liaison to the African-American number runners. However, in October of 1935, Dutch Shultz became the target of an assassination and died the next day (2). Upon Dutchs shooting, he received a letter that said, As ye sow, so shall ye reap, which was written by none other than Madame St. Clair. However, the hit on Shultz was orchestrated by the alliance of mob bosses Charles Lucky Luciano and Lensky, which would come to claim the lucrative market of running numbers. Johnson was appointed to an ambassador position, as well as director of the Black numbers runners for the Italian Mafia (3). His own competitors feared and respected him enough to offer him work.

Candice Martinez American Literature, Camden County College September 2010

Bibliography

1. http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/johnson-ellsworth-bumpy-1906-1968

2. http://www.numbersandyou.com/Harlem.html?NID=23029482 3. http://www.slate.com/id/3455/ 4. http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/gangsters_outlaws/gang/harlem_ga ngs/5.html