Godfather of Harlem poster

Loosely based on infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson, who in the early 1960s returned from ten years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles. With the streets controlled by the Italian mob, Bumpy attempts to regain his piece of Harlem.

4 Seasons
33 Episodes
Returning Series
Drama Crime
Cast & Characters
The Hate That Hate Produced
8.7/10 (510 votes)

#1 The Hate That Hate Produced

S2:E10

Bumpy Johnson must fend off rivals to receive the largest dope shipment in New York history, while Harlem explodes into riot; Malcolm X reluctantly agrees to protection from an unusual source.

Our Black Shining Prince
8.7/10 (384 votes)

#2 Our Black Shining Prince

S3:E10

Bumpy and Chin enlist Morgenthau's help to prevent Colombo and Battle from bringing in a shipment of heroin, guns, and cocaine. Stella must choose between Colombo and her father.

We Are All Kings
8.6/10 (318 votes)

#3 We Are All Kings

S3:E9

Chin Gigante is released from prison and seeks to excise Joe Colombo from the Commission.

Ten Harlems
8.5/10 (426 votes)

#4 Ten Harlems

S2:E8

Confronted with a betrayal in his ranks, Bumpy Johnson hunts for enemies within his Ten Harlems. The conflict between Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam escalates from threats to outright violence.

The Bonanno Split
8.5/10 (420 votes)

#5 The Bonanno Split

S2:E9

Bumpy Johnson must protect the Italian mob when Joseph Bonanno decides to abolish the Commission; captain Omar takes his campaign against Malcolm X to a new level.

The Geechee
8.4/10 (481 votes)

#6 The Geechee

S2:E4

An unlikely partnership proves to be extremely lucrative for Bumpy Johnson and Chin Gigante, but their success puts targets on their backs. Malcolm X fights off attacks on his character and his life.

The Ballot or the Bullet
8.4/10 (470 votes)

#7 The Ballot or the Bullet

S2:E6

Three Freedom Riders are murdered in Mississippi, and Bumpy Johnson wants justice, as well as a hedge against Federal investigation. Chin Gigante evades imprisonment with an “insanity” defense, and Malcolm X delivers his most fervent call to action.

Masters of War
8.3/10 (648 votes)

#8 Masters of War

S1:E7

Striking back at the Italians, Bumpy exploits Chin's dark past. Mayme and Elise put aside their differences and Bumpy sees his wife and children reunited before his war explodes.

Chickens Come Home to Roost
8.3/10 (656 votes)

#9 Chickens Come Home to Roost

S1:E10

Bumpy blackmails the mob in an effort to secure the safety of himself and his family. President John F. Kennedy is assassinated. Teddy performs at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

The Fruit Stand Riot
8.3/10 (485 votes)

#10 The Fruit Stand Riot

S2:E3

When innocent black teenagers and bystanders are savagely beaten and arrested by police, the Harlem community rallies to free them. Adam Clayton Powell and Mayme Johnson use peaceful protest, but Bumpy Johnson and Malcolm X prefer street justice.

Sting Like a Bee
8.2/10 (506 votes)

#11 Sting Like a Bee

S2:E2

Bumpy Johnson wants to use his new French supplier to distribute to the “Harlems” of other major American cities. Malcolm X uses Cassius Clay to leverage himself back into favor with the Nation of Islam before Clay’s famous fight versus Sonny Liston.

By Whatever Means Necessary
8.1/10 (1070 votes)

#12 By Whatever Means Necessary

S1:E1

After returning from Alcatraz, Bumpy Johnson seeks to regain control of Harlem. With the streets controlled by the Italian mob, Bumpy must take on the Genovese crime family, led by Vincent “Chin” Gigante.

The French Connection
8.1/10 (536 votes)

#13 The French Connection

S2:E1

After three months in hiding from Chin Gigante and the Italians, Bumpy Johnson takes action to lift the sanctions off his head. By forging new alliances with European suppliers, Bumpy aims to reunite with his family safely back in Harlem.

It's a Small World After All
8.1/10 (462 votes)

#14 It's a Small World After All

S2:E5

An incident at the Geechee Club threatens to break up Bumpy and Chin's partnership. Adam Clayton Powell looks to end the filibuster on the Civil Rights Bill, even if it means playing dirty.

Man of the Year
8.1/10 (423 votes)

#15 Man of the Year

S2:E7

Before accepting a prestigious award, Bumpy Johnson contemplates the many contradictions in his life, and struggles to do what's best for his family; Chin Gigante learns a difficult truth about his daughter, Stella.

The Negro in White America
8.1/10 (405 votes)

#16 The Negro in White America

S3:E1

To repay a drug debt owed to the Italians after the Harlem riots, Bumpy Johnson robs from his own community. Omar seeks to return to Elise and Malcolm's good graces. Someone close to Stella orders a hit on her life.

All Roads Lead to Malcolm
8.1/10 (305 votes)

#17 All Roads Lead to Malcolm

S3:E7

When Battle's arrested, Bumpy must find a way to spring him and find the mole. Bumpy discovers that Malcolm X has more enemies than they thought.

I Am The Greatest
8.0/10 (688 votes)

#18 I Am The Greatest

S1:E4

Cassius Clay battles local boxing hero Doug Jones in the ring. Mayme insists Bumpy back Jones, an advocate for her Harlem Youth organization, but Malcolm urges Bumpy to back Clay. Meanwhile, Chin engages in a turf war for Harlem with Bonnano.

It's All In the Game
8.0/10 (642 votes)

#19 It's All In the Game

S1:E5

In an effort to break Bumpy's bank, Chin fixes a bet, as a result, Bumpy owes the winners more than he can cover. Police arrest Stella and Teddy for kissing. Elise looks toward the Nation of Islam in order to better herself.

Il Canto de Malavita
8.0/10 (626 votes)

#20 Il Canto de Malavita

S1:E6

Elijah Muhammed tours Malcolm X's mosque where he meets Elise and asks her to spy on Malcolm. Chin finds out Teddy is alive, leaving Ernie Nunzi to correct his mistake. Esther James sues Adam Clayton Powell Jr. for slander.

Captain Fields
8.0/10 (327 votes)

#21 Captain Fields

S3:E4

When two uniformed cops attack the Geechee, Bumpy and Battle make a play for control of local 27th police precinct. Stella decides whether to rat Colombo out to the Feds. Meanwhile, Malcolm's life is threatened in Cairo.

The Nitty Gritty
7.9/10 (773 votes)

#22 The Nitty Gritty

S1:E2

Realizing a consistent source of heroin is vital to reclaim Harlem, Bumpy engages in a fevered search to find a dope supply independent of the Italians. Chin engages the services of crooked cops in a plot to arrest Bumpy and send him back to jail.

Our Day Will Come
7.9/10 (738 votes)

#23 Our Day Will Come

S1:E3

Bumpy unexpectedly finds himself at Elise's side when her shoplifting arrest and subsequent abuse is the catalyst for a protest where conflicting interests cause tensions to rise.

How I Got Over
7.9/10 (591 votes)

#24 How I Got Over

S1:E8

Chin and Bonnano are at war in Harlem. Mayme asks Bumpy to create a will where Bumpy finds out he and Mayme never formally adopted Margaret. Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. go to D.C. for the March on Washington.

Rent Strike Blues
7.8/10 (583 votes)

#25 Rent Strike Blues

S1:E9

Due to slum conditions in Harlem, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. leads a rent strike and investigates the owners of the buildings. Ernie Nunzi searches for the hooker who helped set up Zambrano. Bumpy and Mayme experience tension in their marriage.

Mecca
7.8/10 (342 votes)

#26 Mecca

S3:E3

Jose Battle asks for a favor from his new partner Bumpy Johnson: a political assassination. Malcolm X is detained by Saudi authorities when he travels to Mecca. The district attorney's office targets Mayme for her gangster ties.

Angel of Death
7.8/10 (300 votes)

#27 Angel of Death

S3:E5

Bumpy and Colombo face off for control of the heroin trade when Monsieur 98 returns to bring in the next shipment. Omar makes a romantic appeal to Elise. Pettigrew discovers cocaine through his love affair with a Cuban woman.

Spooks
7.8/10 (295 votes)

#28 Spooks

S3:E6

Bumpy utilizes Battle's contacts in the CIA to secure a steady supply of a new drug: cocaine. Stella lies to Fineman in an attempt to escape Colombo's oversight. Mayme applies for a government contract for Palmetto.

Homeland or Death
7.8/10 (279 votes)

#29 Homeland or Death

S3:E8

Bumpy uncovers a CIA plot to assassinate Malcolm X and Che Guevara at the United Nations. Malcolm writes his autobiography. Olympia utilizes Father Louis to get out of trouble.

Alzado
7.7/10 (316 votes)

#30 Alzado

S3:E2

When Joe Colombo carries out a gentleman's kidnapping of Mayme, Bumpy angrily prepares for a coming war.

Episode 1
0.0/10

#31 Episode 1

S4:E1

Episode 2
0.0/10

#32 Episode 2

S4:E2

Episode 3
0.0/10

#33 Episode 3

S4:E3

Cast & Chracters

Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson

Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson

Actor: Forest Whitaker
Delbert C. 'Del' Chance

Delbert C. 'Del' Chance

Actor: Erik LaRay Harvey
Mayme Johnson

Mayme Johnson

Actor: Ilfenesh Hadera
Elise Johnson

Elise Johnson

Actor: Antoinette Crowe-Legacy
Stella Gigante

Stella Gigante

Actor: Lucy Fry
Joe Colombo

Joe Colombo

Actor: Michael Raymond-James

The highest rated episode of Godfather of Harlem is "The Hate That Hate Produced" (S2E10) with a rating of 8.70.

This episode received 510 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "Alzado" (S3E2) with a rating of 7.70.

This episode received 316 votes.

The highest rated episode is "Masters of War" (S1E7) with a rating of 8.30.

This episode received 648 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "Rent Strike Blues" (S1E9) with a rating of 7.80.

This episode received 583 votes.

The highest rated episode is "The Hate That Hate Produced" (S2E10) with a rating of 8.70.

This episode received 510 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "The French Connection" (S2E1) with a rating of 8.10.

This episode received 536 votes.

The highest rated episode is "Our Black Shining Prince" (S3E10) with a rating of 8.70.

This episode received 384 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "Alzado" (S3E2) with a rating of 7.70.

This episode received 316 votes.

Name Department Job
Chris Brancato Production Executive Producer
Forest Whitaker Production Executive Producer
James Acheson Production Executive Producer
Markuann Smith Production Executive Producer
Nina Yang Bongiovi Production Executive Producer
Paul Eckstein Production Executive Producer

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