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 enlarge | Authors: Mayme Hatcher Johnson, Karen E. Quinones Miller
Publisher: Oshun Publishing Company, Inc.
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy New: $14.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 68934
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Pages: 248
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.5
ISBN: 0967602831
Dewey Decimal Number: 364
EAN: 9780967602837
ASIN: 0967602831
Publication Date: February 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: DIRECT FROM DISTRIBUTOR.. WE SHIP TO TO PRISONS!!!
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 6-8 of 8 | | « PREV | | |
 Hot times in Harlem March 17, 2008
Harlem Godfather: The Rap on my Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson by Mayme Johnson and Karen E Quinones Miller, is a non-fiction book about crime in Harlem from 1930s to the late 1960s. Violent fights for the numbers racket (we called it Policy in Chicago), beatings, and killings filled the pages from beginning to end. Nearly all of the action takes place on the streets of Harlem, New York down to the exact corners. Considering all of the above, it's still an entertaining read about a life-size thug, gangster, big-time criminal and Black Godfather of Harlem. Want to know the link to the movie American Gangster and Frank Lucas's relationship to "Bumpy?" Mrs. Johnson tells it all. She lived it. Her voice is authentic and true to the era. At 91, she did a remarkable job of telling Bumpy and his cohorts' story. Karen E Quinones Miller did an excellent job cowriting and laying down Mrs. Johnson's words into an easy flow. Harlem Godfather is even comical in places - I found myself laughing out loud. Honor among thieves? Mrs. Johnson says sometimes.
Make no mistake, this is an adult book. I enjoyed the change of pace.
One of the Best Books I've read this year!!! March 13, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I was a bit surprised that Mayme Johnson still lived, or that Bumpy even had a wife or anything for that matter. It was great to be able to be a part of those who helped to bring this book to the light. Then to actually get the book in my hands and read it, oh I just couldn't put it down. See, I really thought that Bumpy was a character in "Hoodlum" with Laurence Fishburne. My father told me that while he lived in Harlem, he saw him walk by since he was a fixture there and when I did my research I find that the man truly lived and had the lock down on Harlem. It was a very interesting book about his life from his birth to his death in 1968 just as he was about to eat at a restaurant. Very interesting and captivating. She talks about the many celebrities that crossed her path, such as Billie Holliday, Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, etc the real deal about Frank Lucas of American Gangster fame, also some info on Madam Stephanie St Clair, who was featured in Hoodlum, as well. Very interesting book. Thank You Mrs Johnson and Ms Miller.
So Now I Know the REAL story! March 4, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
First I want to commend Karen E. Quinones Miller for helping Mrs. Johnson write this book. Finally, the truth comes out about the real Bumpy Johnson and not what was depicted in Hoodlum and American Gangster.
And speaking of American Gangster, after reading this book I can't believe the out and out lies about Bumpy Johnson that were told in that movie. Hollywood, you should be ashamed of yourself! And if it was Frank Lucas that told Hollywood those lies, Mr. Lucas you should hang your head.
This book gives all the details about Bumpy's life from his childhood in Charleston, to his death in 1968. (And no, he did not have a heart attack and die in some department store like they said in American Gangster.) It also details all of his criminal activities dating from back when he was a teenager. Most importantly, after reading this book you feel you've gotten to know the REAL Bumpy Johnson, and not just the legend. He was something else.
It also has wonderful little stories about people like Sugar Ray Robinson (you've got to read what Mrs. Johnson said about Mrs. Sugar Ray!) and Lena Horne (tsk, tsk, tsk, to you Ms. Horne!) as well as gangsters like Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz.
I had to wait for like a month to come out, but it was worth the wait! I'm a big fan of gangster books like The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano, Shoot the Dutchman, and different bios on Meyer Lansky and others . . . but it's so good to read a bio about the most famous black gangster who ever lived. This is now my favorite gangster book.
Oh. I almost forgot to mention that I enjoyed reading about Mrs. Johnson's relationship with Bumpy Johnson. You can tell those two were really in love. And there are some parts, like what happened between them right before he died, that will bring tears to a lot of eyes.
This was a great book.
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