Written by Michael Thervil
Photo by MGM+
Going on its 4th season, the Emmy winning series, Godfather of Harlem, continues to expound upon the life of the 1960’s civil rights era Harlem gangster and crime boss Bumpy Johnson who is graciously played by none other than the legendary forest Whitaker. In the 4th season of this show, which does a great job at articulating the environment and the struggles of people, gangsters or not within New York's Harlem, located in the upper Manhattan neighborhood, Bumpy Johnson finds that he is struggling for power and control over Harlem in this season.
What we like about season 4 is that the Producers and Directors are introducing another legendary gangster into the season by the name of Frank Lucas played by Rome Flynn. The real-life character of Frank Lucas was popularized by Denzil Washington’s delivery on the hit motion picture entitled: “American Gangster”. Interestingly enough, the Godfather of Harlem season 4 also introduces other historical figures such as Afeni Shakur (mother of slain Rapper Tupac Shakur played by Devin Kessler) and the likes of renowned writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin (played by Michael Benjamin Washington).
Photo by MGM+
Season 4 of the Godfather of Harlem also highlights the internal struggles of Bumpy Johnson’s life which also include how his daughter Elise (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) not only leans towards the principles of the highly controversial civil rights group the Black Panthers, but actually seeks to become a member of the Black Panther Party, which is diametrically the polar opposite of what her father Bumpy Johnson stands for. Other historical depictions in season 4 of the Godfather of Harlem included the assassination of Malcolm X (played by (Jason Alan Carvell) as Bumpy Johnson although the polar opposite of Malcom X, is depicted in the series as somewhat of a friend of Malcom x during the time.
Producers of season 4 of the Godfather of Harlem consist of Chris Brancato, Paul Eckstein, Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, Markuann Smith, Ray Quinlan, Michael Panes, and Stephen Schiff. The Godfather of Harlem season 4 carries a rating of TV-MA for 10 episodes. Although there hasn't been a specific release date as of yet, it was stated by MGM+ that season 4 should be released sometime this spring (2025).