Bumpy Johnson comes home from Alcatraz to reunite with his family, and must reclaim his Harlem territory from Italian mob boss Vincent Gigante. He discovers an unlikely ally in his old friend Malcolm X.

Bumpy Johnson must take control of the dope trade if he's to rule Harlem once more, and engineers a daring theft of heroin to do so.

Bumpy unexpectedly finds himself at Elise's side when her shoplifting arrest and subsequent abuse is the catalyst for a protest where conflicting interests cause tensions to rise.

Cassius Clay fights local boxing hero Doug Jones; Mayme wants Bumpy to back Jones but Malcolm urges Bumpy to support Clay; Chin engages in a turf war with Bonnano and a buried secret is revealed.

Chin fixes a bet in an attempt to ruin Bumpy, and now Bumpy owes the winners more than he can cover. The police arrest Stella and Teddy over kissing, while Elise looks toward the Nation of Islam to better herself.

Bumpy is given an unsavoury task to cover his debt. While Elijah Muhammed tours Malcolm X's mosque, he meets Elise and asks her to spy on Malcolm. Chin learns Teddy is alive.