“The Geechee” left things in a quite peculiar place last week. With Vincent “Chin” Gigante and Bumpy Johnson teaming up, it put Joe Bonanno in a vulnerable position. At the end of the day, it appeared that the two could work in harmony as long as the end goal was to make money. However, “It’s A Small World After All” put a squeeze on their relationship if not broke it down altogether. ALERT: This recap contains spoilers from the fifth episode of the second season of the Godfather of Harlem.
What You Missed
It’s A Small World After All
No rats allowed… TONIGHT at 9/8c only on @EPIXHD #GodfatherofHarlem pic.twitter.com/zpfYYKezSn
— Godfather of Harlem on EPIX (@GodfatherHarlem) May 16, 2021
Synopsis: An incident at the Geechee Club threatens to break up Bumpy and Chin’s partnership. Adam Clayton Powell looks to end the filibuster on the Civil Rights Bill, even if it means playing dirty.
Three Things That Keep Me Guessing
Why were Gigante and Johnson mixing business and pleasure?
Carmine’s death at the beginning of the episode sets the stage for an epic fallout between Bumpy Johnson and Chin Gigante. However, the question remains, why was Carmine there in the first place? Over the last few months, Johnson and Gigante have gotten close and build a great business relationship. However, it appears that the two have gotten too friendly. After Johnson opened up the Geechee Club, it looked like Gigante and his crew took it as an invitation to come in and party. Gigante and Johnson never seemed to put a divide on their personal and professional boundaries. The two men work together, but given the racial divides that exist there is no reason they should be partying together. Gigante and his men never seemed to respect Black people, so adding liquor, drugs, sex and nightclub activities will only add to more disrespect and violence. Some co-workers just don’t need to spend time out of the office together.
When will Stella Gigante stop putting others in danger?
Stella Gigante is easily the most infuriating character this season. After the death of Teddy Greene, she hides in her room for months. Meanwhile, the Greene family has to push through and go on with life while she feels sorry for herself. Then, she finds a way to meet with Teddy’s mother, Delia. At first, it appears that she is trying to make amends for her role in Teddy’s death. Not before long, she’s asking Delia Greene for her blessing to kill the man who shot her son. Ignoring the trauma that she may inflict upon the Greene family, she puts this question in Delia’s hands. Thankfully, Delia tries to talk her out of it. In true Stella fashion, she shoots the man who killed Teddy while Ernie was standing there, making him an accomplice. Now, she’s hanging her actions over his head and putting him in an impossible situation. Throughout this ordeal, she continues to act as if she’s the victim. In the first season, she put Teddy in danger. Now, she’s putting Ernie and Delia in danger. Yet, we’re supposed to feel sorry for her?
When will the dignity of Black women be respected in Harlem?
After killing Carmine at the nightclub, Chance was ordered to leave the city. However, he argued that he shouldn’t be forced to leave his home because he killed someone who disrespected the Black women he was around. Ultimately, he decided to stay with his girlfriend, Renee. Unfortunately, a few of Gigante’s disgruntled men kidnapped Renee in exchange for Chance. Bumpy verbally agrees to turn over Chance, but he believed he could get Renee and Chance back without a hitch. Tragically, Bumpy and Chance’s plan results in Renee’s death.
Renee’s death is the latest in a trend that is shown throughout the episode. White women in Harlem are given chance after chance to mess up, learn and eventually bounce back. Meanwhile, Black women are used, threatened, dismissed and disgraced. On one end, Stella Gigante is told not to kill anyone in retaliation for Teddy Greene’s murder. In spite of those orders, she kills someone anyway and holds it over Ernie’s head even though he’s the only that is looking out for her. Elsewhere, Amy Vanderbilt is coddled as she learns about the plight of Black communities in preparation for her big television interview. On the other end, Mayme Johnson is forced to work with the woman who had an affair with her husband. Dozens of Black women have to have sex with a racist white Senator in order to push through a Civil Rights Bill. Teddy Greene’s mother is held at gunpoint because Stella couldn’t follow her simple warnings. Above all else, Renee’s life is lost because of a dispute over a man who threatened the life of another Black woman.