History of Crime in Harlem

I checked out a movie this weekend, American Gangster. Like many of the other folks that have checked out the movie, I have mixed feelings. However, I mostly think that it was a story that I found to be interesting, intellectually that is. After all, I spend my days fighting crime. I left the theatre with many questions, some of which could have been addressed via editorial action on the part of the producers of the movie. Other questions were better answered by conducting my own Google research, which is how I earn my recreational PhD in random topics. I heart Google.

Today, I had the day off because of Election Day. I know, it was weird. But don't worry, I am working this weekend and through the Veterans Day Holiday, so I will get my fair share of time in. I spent the day running errands and working on my research.

Here's a roadmap of the sources that I found most interesting:

If you are interested in learning more about the history of crime in Harlem, click here. I learned soooo much about my community from this link. For instance, I always thought the Cotton Club was black owned. I didn't know that no matter your financial condition black folks weren't even allowed through the front door! I also learned that the Cotton Club was acquired from a black man after he was pushed out by the mob. Then there were a number of books and names mentioned that I plan to check out later.

Before the movie was made, New York Magazine published an article about Franc Lucas called The Return of Superfly. The article was written by Marc Jacobson and filled in the gaps that I had after the movie. Marc Jacobson also got Franc Lucas and Nikki Barnes (played by Cuba Gooding, Jr.) together for an interview recently, click here.

The American Gangster had a daughter, Francis Lucas. And the absence of any mention of his children was another reason the movie left much to be desired. Here's a link to an article printed in this month's Glamour magazine on Frank Lucas' daughter and her experience growing up with parents that are incarcerated. She has an organization that provides resourches to children with incarcerated parents, called Yellow Brick Road.