Bumpy Johnson

Bumpy Johnson

• Born: October 31, 1905, Charleston, South Carolina
• Died: July 7, 1968, Harlem, New York City

Birthplace: Charleston, South Carolina

Resting Place: Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx, New York

Family

Spouse: Mayme Hatcher Johnson

Children: (None known)

Parents: William Johnson, Margaret Moultrie

Known Relatives: (None known)

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Education

(None known)

Degrees: (None known)

Occupation: Gangster, racketeer

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Connections

All Known affiliates:

• Dutch Schultz
• Stephanie St. Clair
• Frank Lucas

Known peers:

• Lucky Luciano
• Meyer Lansky
• Charles “Lucky” Luciano

Known colleagues:

• Albert Anastasia
• Willie Sutton
• Malcolm X

Mentors:

• None known

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Legacy

Bibliography:

• Bumpy Johnson: Harlem Godfather (2002) by Peter Maas

Achievements:

• None known

Known for:

• Running a criminal empire in Harlem during the 1930s and 1940s
• Mentoring Frank Lucas, one of the most notorious drug lords in American history
• Being portrayed by Forest Whitaker in the 2007 film American Gangster

Quotes

• ”I’m not a bad guy. I’m just a businessman."
• "I’m the law in Harlem."
• "I’m not afraid of the police. I’m afraid of the people.”