Godfather of Harlem Season 4 Episode 4 Recap: Who is Afeni Shakur?
In episode 4 of Godfather of Harlem season 4, titled “Union Blues,” things take a tense turn for Bumpy Johnson (played by Forest Whitaker). He begins work on a new cultural project in Harlem, which he names after his mentor, Stephanie St. Clair. But not everything goes as planned. A powerful labor union protests the construction because Bumpy refuses to hire only white workers. Determined to stand by his principles, Bumpy takes bold steps to fix the situation.
Stream Godfather of Harlem on Prime Video.
What Happens in Episode 4 of Godfather of Harlem Season 4?
Bumpy Johnson and his wife Mayme (played by Ilfenesh Hadera) host a celebration to mark the groundbreaking of their new venue, Club St. Clair. This center is meant to honor Harlem’s culture and history, and create jobs for the community, around 1,500 of them. But during the event, a union leader interrupts, protesting the construction. He insists Bumpy must hire union workers, most of whom are white.
Instead of giving in, Bumpy stays firm on hiring Black workers from Harlem. To deal with the problem, he asks Del (Erik LaRay Harvey) to break into the union boss’s office and find evidence of corruption. They discover that the boss is stealing money from the union, and he’s connected to Joe Colombo (Michael Raymond-James), a powerful mob figure.
Once Bumpy gets the proof, he confronts Colombo. The mobster takes swift action by eliminating the corrupt union boss. Later, after a talk with Stella Gigante (Lucy Fry), Bumpy feels confident that the new union boss will support him, allowing him to continue the project with local Black workers.
By the end of the episode, construction begins again, and Bumpy imagines the future of Club St. Clair. However, in real life, there’s no solid evidence that Bumpy Johnson actually built a cultural center like this in Harlem. It seems this part of the story is fictional but inspired by his real connection to Stephanie St. Clair.
Who is Afeni Shakur in Godfather of Harlem?
Afeni Shakur (played by Devin Kessler) is introduced as a strong voice within the Black Panther Party in Harlem. In episode 4, Elise (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy), now an official member of the party, helps Afeni during a tense situation. The Panthers are volunteering at a local school, helping kids, when police arrive. They ask for a permit and demand the group leave. Afeni refuses to back down and is arrested.
Her bail is set at $500, a big amount at the time. Elise and a small group of Panthers take a risky route and rob a drug den to raise the money.
Is Afeni Shakur Related to Tupac?
Yes, Afeni Shakur is the mother of Tupac Shakur, the famous rapper and activist. She was born Alice Faye Williams in North Carolina. Later, she moved with her family to the Bronx. During her early years, she struggled with drug use and was part of a street gang called The Disciples. She later became one of the first women to work as a mail carrier in New York City.
Her life changed when she heard Bobby Seale, a Black Panther leader, speak. She soon joined the movement and quickly became active in the Harlem chapter. She met and married Lumumba Shakur, a fellow Panther leader. Afeni played a big role in organizing programs like free breakfast for kids and rent strikes for poor tenants.
She gave birth to Tupac in 1971. While that event hasn’t happened yet in the show’s timeline, her character adds important depth to the story. If you’re curious about their real-life relationship, check out the documentary Dear Mama on Hulu (or Disney+ in the UK).