Literature Review- Harlem Godfather: The Rap on My Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson

Author: Mayme Johnson & Karen E. Quinones Miller

ISBN: 978-0-9676028-3-7

Publisher: Oshun Publishing

Publication Date: March 2008

Pages: 237

Price: $15.00

The true Harlem Godfather’s name was Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson in case you heard wrong. Don’t trust Hollywood when you can know the truth from the one person who was closest to the King of Harlem and that is his queen, Mayme Johnson.

According to Mrs. Johnson, Hollywood got it wrong once with the movie Hoodlum where famed actor Laurence Fishburne played Bumpy Johnson, the slayer of the classless Jewish gangster Dutch Shultz. “I can forgive someone who got it wrong, but I cannot forgive someone that flat out lied,” says the very alert 93 year old woman. The latter that she refers to is the movie, American Gangster, where the talented Denzel Washington played Frank Lucas, a New York drug dealer who said he was taught by the Harlem Godfather.

To help clarify the life of a man that has become a legend, long time friend and Essence Beset-Selling Author, Karen E. Quinones Miller teamed up with Mrs. Johnson to get the facts straight about her husband and the man that brought pride to the Harlem community when he took down the notorious Dutch Schultz. The book, Harlem Godfather: The Rap on My Husband Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson is a tell-all book about the life of a gangster who was a humanitarian, a community leader, a husband, a father and one bad man who was both loved and feared.

Bumpy Johnson was a man amongst men and was said to be so tough that even the prisons wanted to get rid of him. The only place where he felt more comfortable was Alcatraz—a place for only the most deadly of criminals and they didn’t want him there either. There is definitely a shortage of gangsters that hold this reputation. According to the book, he was known as the “gorilla tamer” because he would stop any man in his tracks before he got out of line in his city. That’s enough to make any man think twice before crossing him.

He made deals with the legendary Italian gangster of New York City, Lucky Luciano and supported such great black men as Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X. He played host to such entertainers as Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, Joe Louis, and Dickie Wells and many others. He also did time with the father of Rudy Guliani, former mayor of New York City.

Harlem Godfather is a detailed and colorful book that takes you on a vivid journey through the eyes of the closet person to him… his wife. From beginning to end, Mrs. Johnson describes her husband as a man that may have been a gangster but he was also a man of principle. He believed in being a race man, who is now called a black militant. He was a humanitarian who would celebrate the holidays with the children in the community, sharing gifts and good fortune. Later this gift giving would be depicted in several movies that showcased gangsters including New Jack City and In Too Deep.

Bumpy had a big heart. He once saw a woman that was being evicted from her apartment. He went to the landlord and paid her back rent so that she would not be on the streets. This is something that he was known for doing quite often. His heart was big for his people and even bigger for the love of his life Mayme Johnson. The love that they shared was like no other. There was nothing that he would not do for his wife and family. He made sure that Mayme was taken care of financially and emotionally. Mrs. Johnson makes it clear that she understand the life in which he came from but he was not like any other, he was a man who cared.

Bumpy Johnson is known for being a gangster that was vicious with his enemies but he was celebrated because of the many great acts of kindness, pride and confidence that he brought to Harlem. It is not often that a gangster is celebrated in that way but this was man that was definitely worth it.

Literary Review- Strong Medicine Speaks

Author: Amy Hill Hearth
Pages: 224
ISBN: 0743297792
Pub. Date: March 28, 2008
Price: $23.00

I am Native American, and so is my wife/partner. Heather is from the Sukizeet tribe and I am from the Nanticoke tribe or as we say, “People of Lenni Lenabe”. Thus, we have the last name Elitou.

It’s true that most Native Americans hid their ancestry in the past and took on more accepted roles as white and colored in their outward expression forming a secret society, so to speak, for their inner cultural expressions. Many of us have the same experiences of other minority groups who have been classed in the same category and racially targeted. It seems that many people in the American communities have Native American backgrounds as we meet new people everyday.

In my family, there are light and dark skin people we don’t see each other in skin tone, but more so in blood tie. If you are Lenabe you are Lenabe that’s, that! Light or dark skin doesn’t matter. I mean that’s how we roll. We say that our cousins are the Lenni Lenape because they have slightly different customs and experience from ours since we have been separated by racial divides.

We are still relatives and share the exact same ancient ancestry but we express it slightly different. Being from the city requires a different approach to cultural life than country living and so with that brings the difference between the spellings of the two names which are really the same.

I was excited to learn about “Strong Medicine” Speaks: A Native American Elder Has Her Say.” I requested that my editor get this book and I was pleased to see it in my office the following day. It was a very interesting read and very close to home. The book is written by Amy Hill Hearth who also shares Lenape ancestry through a great-grandmother. I was surprised to read this about the author because as she says she looks “completely white”. Although, I was surprised I was not completely taken aback because as I said, we meet new family every day. They come in different shades and sizes but they are Lenape.

Amy Hearth is also the author of “Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years” which is the true story of two African American sisters who are 100 years old. Having a talent for storytelling, reminiscent of her Native American background, the book went on to become an enduring best seller and the subject of a three-time Tony Award nominated play. What’s interesting about Amy’s story is that she didn’t know that she was Lenape until her father stumbled upon her ancestry but in spite of her not knowing there were ancestral traits to be found such as helping a stranger in need which is written in Strong Medicine.

Curious to find out more about her Lenape ancestry she researched and found Marion Strong Medicine Gold on the internet and was inspired to contact her and learn more about our culture. What she learned was so awe inspiring that she decided to write a book about it, but in a way that gives the source of the information a more direct voice to the reader.

Strong Medicine is a very charming individual with 83 years of life to talk about. She takes us all the way back to her humble beginnings. Walk with Strong Medicine as she takes us on a step by step journey through the decades of her life and rare views that otherwise would not have been shared with the outside world. Strong Medicine takes a leap of faith and opens up to Ms. Hearth. At some point it was questionable as to whether or not it was a good idea to go public with such information because racism is still very much alive in America and threats are around every corner. Maybe it was the kinship between them that made Strong Medicine comfortable with her regardless of the potential danger. You can tell that the chemistry is just right for an interesting story— one that keeps the pages turning easily.

Marion takes us back to the 30's as she recalls quite vividly, the days of her childhood growing up black, white, and Indian in America. How could she be black, white, and Indian you ask? She explains how we Native Americans are often mistaken for these races depending on outside racial contact and the misperception of the people. The truth is that we are neither black, white, or Indian- we are indigenous.

Back in America’s younger days, being indigenous was outlawed so most indigenous people would go about their lives neither confirming nor denying their identity. Marion remembers living her life as Lenape but not talking about it much when she was a little girl. Her mother was Lenape, and her father was Lenape and Black, thus giving her a skin tone that blended into most communities.

We learn that she was her parent’s second child, and their first born (a boy) died from crib death in 1921. Marion was born in 1922, and was stronger and faster then some of the boys she played with. She sometimes wished that she could do the boys chores because they seemed more interesting than the chores for girls such as washing clothes and gardening. When it came to boyfriends she caught the eye of a few but the one who caught her eye was a Lenape boy named Wilbur Gould, born in 1919. He was almost three years older than Marion and if it wasn’t for a chance encounter she would have never known him. As luck would have it she later married Wilbur, and as sure as life is full of test, they were tested as well. Wilbur was drafted into the army the year after Pearl Harbor was attacked and fought on the Western Front in World War II. He was taken prisoner during the battle of the Bulge, escaped and returned to active duty on December 31st. I could try to tell you everything about the book but that wouldn’t be fair because it is worth reading yourself.

Overall, Strong Medicine and Amy Hearth have teamed up to give the non-Native American community a rare, inside peek of the Lenape culture and local tribal community (if you live in or near NJ). If you have Native American ancestry, Strong Medicine is a book that should definitely be in your personal library.

Aalim Elitou- Reviewer

Book Review- Diamond Playgirls

What happens when four young successful women from different cities decide to further their careers in the Big Apple while living under the same roof? A little bit of everything.

Meet Dior, a beautiful young woman who just arrived from Canada and is filled with excitement—so excited that her compulsive shopping gets her in trouble but it also helps her find love with the furniture delivery guy. Chris is a wonderful man who is great in bed but when Dior learns something about him that she never expected, will she give up on love or will she meet Mr. Right on myspace.

Tamara is excited about NY because she is hoping to further advance her party promotion career. She is working for two of the biggest names in the business, the Harold Brothers. She isn’t looking for love but love finds her twice. Maurice Harold takes a strong interest in Tamara but she doesn’t like to mix business with pleasure but Maurice can care less even if he is married. Tamara fears that she will be unlucky like her mother and grandmother who have been married again and again. When Aaron a man that she has strong feelings for reveals that he is ready to settle down, will she be ready... to run?

Then there is Chloe. She is the pretty rich girl who meets the man of her dreams. He is smart, handsome, and wealthy. Their love affair seems perfect and is running strong but Chloe is keeping a secret that could cost her the relationship.

Mona Lisa is a woman with a scorned heart. After her mother left she was raised by her father to be a player. She gives a man her body but nothing else. She has loved before but she let Nat slip away. When he finally surfaces again will they be able to continue where they left off or will she lose out on love again?

Diamond Playgirls was definitely a fun read as the authors created this anthology like a Sex in the City meets Girlfriends. The most interesting characters are Tamara and Dior because from each one you get a dose of humor and reality. There are other interesting characters like Jerome the annoying neighbor who tries to get with each of the women who live in the building using his tired mack game. There is also Ms. Margie, the dreadlocked straight to the point old head who actually owns the building that these ladies live in. She calls it her “Diamond Palace” thus the name Diamond Playgirls.

The book was definitely a fun read because each author had to blend each story together in order for these women to finally get together in the end. If you are looking for a book that breaks the usual street fiction drama, then this is the one to get.

Heather Elitou-Reviewer

Harlem Godfather Book Signing w/ Mayme Johnson & Karen Miller

Come and join us as we celebrate the Philadelphia release of the much anticipated book, Harlem Godfather, the Rap on My Husband Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson written by his 93 year old widow and Essence Best-Selling Author, Karen E. Quinones Miller. See what Mrs. Johnson has to say about the movies that have depicted his life and how he was more than just a gangster.

Literary Review- Mississippi Sissy

Did you ever wonder if the little sissy boy that lives in your neighborhood was born that way or if his attitude and demeanor was something he picked up along the way? What about if he has ever encountered a sexual experience with a woman? If you have answered yes to any of these questions then you should be reading Mississippi Sissy.

Kevin Sessums is well known as a contributing editor at Allure magazine, and articles that have been written for Vanity Fair. He was also the executive editor for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine. His work has also appeared in Elle, Travel + Leisure, Playboy, POZ, Out, and Show People magazines. But nothing compares to the memoir Mississippi Sissy.

Written like a true confession or a diary, the author takes you through the many adventures of his life growing up in the racist Mississippi during the 1950’s outside of Jackson. Not only was there racial prejudice but being gay was definitely nothing that was accepted easily.

Kevin was fortunate to have two caring parents and unfortunate to have lost them at a very young age. His father was a very well-known basketball player for the Knicks. He had the typical male, macho ego that would not allow him to accept his son’s sissy ways, while his mother nurtured his flamboyancy and sometimes encouraged it by allowing him to participate in sewing, wearing a witch costume for Halloween, and talking about the latest gossip coming from Hollywood and Broadway.

Sessum’s life was filled with colorful people that loved him and he shared his love affairs throughout out the book. A few of the most memorable were with the maid, Matty May who he adored and did everything for and with her until one day she quit never to return. Was it something that Kevin said? Was it something that the family had done? What happens to her later in future is shocking and heart touching.

Kevin did experience a crush on a little girl that had an interest in Kevin. She was not like your average little girl and there was much more to her then a cute face. As she and Kevin ventured out to the ball field while their mothers bathed in sun, she gave him his first experience as to what it feels to be with a girl... intimately.

There were times that were also very hard to speak of but Kevin persevered by sharing about the time he was molested by a very respected preacher who stole his innocence and used Kevin’s admiration as a means to getting what he wanted. Kevin also experienced another tragic situation as a youth that was hard to swallow as you read word for word.

Kevin also gave a confession. He and his father did something that was never to be spoken about. If anyone was to find out it would bring humiliation on them both and the entire family. As Sessum confesses to the offense, he makes it clear that it was this incident that made the secret that he share with his father a gulity pleasure.

Although it is not clear as to say whether or not a person is born gay or if it is something that they choose along the way because of an tragic experience in life that made them go in that direction. What you will learn from reading Mississippi is that Kevin enjoyed being who he was and his family accepted it lovingly or with a chaser.

Overall, I thin that Sessum’s lived a full live and he is not ashamed. He has experienced the good and the bad of growing up a sissy; there is nothing to apologize for as he is now living a life that is fulfilling to most of us. His open diary was an the opportunity for him to analyze himself and an opportunity for us to experience through a young boy what it was like to grow up a Mississippi Sissy.

Heather Elitou- Reviewer