Godfather of Harlem

2019
4.6
36 reviews
TV-MA
Rating
Eligible
Watch in a web browser or on supported devices Learn More

Season 2 episodes (10)

1 The French Connection
4/18/21
After 3 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.
2 Sting Like a Bee
4/25/21
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.
3 The Little Fruit Stand Riot
5/2/21
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.
4 The Geechee
5/9/21
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.
5 It's a Small World After All
5/16/21
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.
6 The Ballot or the Bullet
5/23/21
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.
7 Man of the Year
8/8/21
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, forever altering their relationship.
8 Ten Harlems
8/15/21
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.
9 Bumpy Johnson must protect the Italian mob.
8/22/21
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.
10 The Hate That Hate Produced
8/29/21
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.

About this show

Inspired by actual persons and events, Godfather of Harlem reimagines the story of infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Academy Award®- winner Forest Whitaker), 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 must take on the Genovese crime family to regain control. During the brutal battle, he forms an alliance with radical preacher Malcolm X (Nigél Thatch) – catching Malcolm's political rise in the crosshairs of social upheaval and a mob war that threatens to tear the city apart. Godfather of Harlem is a collision of the criminal underworld and the civil rights movement during one of the most tumultuous times in American history. While this story is inspired by actual events, certain characters, characterizations, incidents, locations and dialogue were fictionalized or invented for purposes of dramatization. With respect to such fictionalization or invention, any similarity to the name or to the actual character or history of any person, living or dead, or any product or entity or actual incident is entirely for dramatic purpose and not intended to reflect on an actual character, history, product or entity.

Ratings and reviews

4.6
36 reviews
Leonardo Fields
September 9, 2021
History, the sides you have never seen. It does have a tendency to keep you tensed. You must keep a strong mind otherwise history could repeat itself. Lesson learned, Keeping your political views to yourself is a must. Living right is heaven.
Did you find this helpful?
katie ferrari
December 27, 2021
this show is SO GOOD! it's a fantastic look at the civil rights movement from a different perspective, and it traces the intersection of organized crime (via Bumpy), the Nation of Islam and the start of Black Power (via Malcolm X), and formal politics (via Clayton Powell). i don't know why more people aren't talking about this show and i really hope it gets renewed for a third season. the writing and acting are so so good.
Did you find this helpful?
Rie Arnell
March 16, 2022
I like this show because it shows the ways things were back in that time and they don't sugarcoat nothing. Powerful performances and Bumpy Johnson is not a man to be reckoned with. He was fearless
Did you find this helpful?

Rate this show

Tell us what you think.