Ep 5. It's a Small World After All

It's a Small World After All is the fifth episode of the second season of Godfather of Harlem, the American crime drama TV series created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein. Set in the late 1960s, the show tells the story of Bumpy Johnson, a notorious gangster who returns to Harlem after a decade in prison to find his neighborhood controlled by the Italian Mafia. Bumpy's quest for power and redemption takes him on a collision course with the Mafia, the FBI, the Civil Rights Movement, and his own troubled past.

In this episode, Bumpy (portrayed by Forest Whitaker) continues his alliance with Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (Giancarlo Esposito), the Congressman of Harlem and a prominent civil rights leader. Powell helps Bumpy to secure a meeting with President Richard Nixon (Denis O'Hare), who is seeking support from African American voters in his re-election campaign. Bumpy proposes a deal to Nixon, in which he will promise the black vote in exchange for the release of some political prisoners who were jailed for their involvement in the civil rights movement. Nixon seems hesitant, and Bumpy realizes he needs more leverage.

Meanwhile, Bumpy's right-hand man, Eliseo (Rafi Gavron), is tasked with retrieving a valuable necklace from a wealthy couple who owe Bumpy money. He enlists the help of one of Bumpy's associates, Stella (Lucy Fry), who poses as a socialite and infiltrates the couple's party. Stella charms the couple and steals the necklace, but the situation quickly spirals out of control when she gets caught by the man's jealous ex-lover. Eliseo and Stella must fight their way out of the party and evade the police who are now looking for them.

Elsewhere, Malcolm X (Nigél Thatch) makes a shocking return to Harlem after his public split with Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. Malcolm seeks Bumpy's help in protecting his family from assassination attempts by the Nation's agents. Bumpy is hesitant to get involved in the feud, but he agrees to shelter Malcolm's family in exchange for his own protection. The tension between Malcolm and Bumpy is palpable, as they have a past of ideological differences and personal enmity.

In a subplot, Teddy Greene (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a rising star in the Mafia who has been sent by his bosses to control the Harlem numbers game, finds himself attracted to Mayme (Ilfenesh Hadera), Bumpy's wife. Teddy and Mayme share a romantic moment, which complicates their loyalties and puts them in danger.

It's a Small World After All delves deeper into the complex dynamics of power, race, and betrayal in Harlem's underworld. The episode showcases the show's strengths in blending historical accuracy with fictionalized drama, as it features real-life figures such as Nixon, Powell, and Malcolm X, while also developing the fictional characters of Bumpy, Eliseo, and Mayme. The episode also advances the overarching themes of the season, such as the growing influence of the black Mafia, the Vietnam War's impact on Harlem, and the changing political landscape of America. It's a thrilling and suspenseful chapter in Godfather of Harlem's gripping saga.