What Happened to Harlem's 20-Year-Old Crime Queen? | Stephanie St. Clair

Summary

This video covers the life of Stephanie St. Clair, a prominent figure in New York's 1920s underworld. Known as 'Queenie' or 'Madame St. Clair,' she rose to power through illegal gambling and racketeering, clashing with both the Mafia and the police. St. Clair built a fortune but faced fierce opposition, especially from mobster Dutch Schultz. After years of conflict, her empire declined, and she was imprisoned. Post-release, she retired quietly, living off her wealth. Her story reflects Harlem’s criminal scene, racial tensions, and her resilience as a powerful black woman.

Takeaways

• 🎲 Stephanie St Clair, also known as 'Queenie' or 'Madame St Clair,' was a prominent figure in New York’s underworld during the 1920s, involved in racketeering and illegal gambling.
• 🏝️ She was believed to have been born in Guadeloupe in 1897, of African descent, and later claimed to be from France as part of her self-mythologizing.
• 💰 St Clair rose to prominence through the 'numbers business,' a form of illegal gambling, and became wealthy from it, amassing a fortune of around $500,000 by the 1930s.
• 🗽 She settled in Harlem, where she established herself as a fierce and educated businesswoman, using her sharp wit and temper to thrive in the male-dominated criminal underworld.
• 👊 St Clair clashed with Dutch Schultz, a mob boss, when he tried to take over her business, leading to a violent conflict that resulted in over 40 deaths.
• 📈 Her Harlem lottery was based on New York’s financial sector, and she operated it in such a way that made it seem like an innocent community lottery to avoid legal trouble.
• 📉 Schultz’s rivalry with St Clair ended when he was killed for disobeying a direct order from the Mafia Commission, allowing her to retain her business.
• 🚓 St Clair also fought against police corruption, testifying in the Seabury Commission, which led to the arrests of several police officers involved in targeting Black 'numbers' operators.
• 🔫 She attempted to murder her husband, Bishop Amiru Al-Mu-Minin Sufi Abdul Hamid, for infidelity but was only convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to prison.
• 🏡 After being released from prison, St Clair retired quietly to a mansion on Long Island, living a legitimate life and maintaining her wealth until her death in 1969.

Q & A

Who was Stephanie St Clair, and what was her role in New York’s underworld?

Stephanie St Clair, also known as 'Queenie' or 'Madame St Clair,' was a prominent figure in New York's underworld during the 1920s. She was heavily involved in illegal gambling and racketeering, amassing a fortune and taking on both the police and the Italian Mafia.

Where and when was Stephanie St Clair born?

Stephanie St Clair is believed to have been born on the island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean on Christmas Eve 1897. However, the exact details of her birth and early life remain unclear.

How did St Clair's early life and education influence her criminal career?

St Clair received an education, which was rare for many of her future criminal rivals. Her mother worked hard to send her to school, which likely contributed to her sophistication and ability to navigate the complex world of illegal gambling in Harlem.

What was the 'numbers business' that Stephanie St Clair became involved in?

The 'numbers business,' also known as 'policy banking,' was a form of illegal gambling that allowed African-Americans in Harlem to participate in a lottery system. This business was a way to circumvent racial exclusion from Wall Street investments, and St Clair became a major player in this underground economy.

How did Stephanie St Clair manage to build her fortune?

By the mid-1920s, St Clair was earning a significant income from the 'numbers business,' taking a percentage of the money staked in lotteries. She also ran multiple lottery schemes, including one based on financial data from New York Clearing House and the Federal Reserve Bank.

What led to the conflict between St Clair and Dutch Schultz?

Dutch Schultz, a violent mob boss, attempted to take over the 'numbers business' in Harlem, issuing an ultimatum to St Clair. Refusing to back down, St Clair organized resistance against Schultz, leading to a violent conflict between their organizations.

How did the conflict between St Clair and Dutch Schultz end?

The conflict ended when Schultz was killed by the Mafia Commission in 1935 after defying orders to avoid killing prosecutor Thomas Dewey. St Clair sent Schultz a telegram that read 'As ye sow, so shall you reap,' after his assassination, symbolizing her victory.

What role did Stephanie St Clair play in activism within the Harlem community?

In addition to her criminal activities, St Clair was an activist in Harlem, placing ads in newspapers to inform African-Americans of their rights when dealing with the police. Her activism led to clashes with law enforcement, resulting in her arrest in 1929.

What was the Seabury Commission, and how did it involve St Clair?

The Seabury Commission investigated corruption within New York’s police and political system. St Clair provided insider information to the commission, revealing how police harassed black 'numbers' operators like herself while protecting more powerful criminal organizations.

What was Stephanie St Clair's life like after her release from prison?

After her release from prison in the early 1940s, St Clair lived a quieter life. She retired to a mansion on Long Island and engaged in legal business ventures. Her later years were spent with her former associate, 'Bumpy' Johnson, and she died in 1969 at the age of 72.