Stephanie St. Clair: Harlem’s Queen of the Numbers Racket
Stephanie St. Clair, also known as “Madame Queen” or “Queenie,” was one of the most powerful and defiant figures in the criminal underworld of early 20th-century Harlem. Born on December 25, 1887, in Guadeloupe, French West Indies, she immigrated to the United States via Canada and built an empire in the illegal numbers racket. But St. Clair wasn’t just a racketeer—she was a fierce advocate for Harlem’s Black community and a vocal opponent of police corruption and Mafia intrusion.
Early Life and Immigration
St. Clair was born to Félicienne, a single mother who worked tirelessly to educate her daughter. After her mother’s death when she was 12, St. Clair left school and saved enough money to emigrate to Montreal, likely under a Caribbean domestic worker program in 1910–1911.
By 1912, she had made her way to New York City, where she settled in Harlem. While adjusting to American life, she used her quarantine period to learn English. Her early years in Harlem were turbulent. She became involved with a local criminal named Duke, who attempted to coerce her into prostitution. When Duke died in a gang altercation, she entered a relationship with another man, Ed, and began selling controlled substances.
Her independent spirit soon took over. After making $30,000, she informed Ed she wanted to go solo. When he tried to strangle her in a fit of rage, she pushed him with such force that he fatally struck his head on a table. From there, she carved her path in Harlem’s underworld.
Building a Criminal Empire
On April 12, 1917, St. Clair invested $10,000 of her savings into the Harlem numbers game, an underground lottery popular in Black communities. This illegal enterprise offered an alternative financial system for African Americans, who were often denied access to banks and legitimate investments. While illegal, it was widely accepted in Harlem and served as an economic lifeline.
St. Clair became one of Harlem’s most successful “policy bankers,” earning more than $20,000 annually—a small fortune at the time. Notably, the numbers game was male-dominated, yet she thrived and stood out as one of the few powerful women in the business. Her network provided jobs to local residents and financial backing to small Black-owned businesses.
Community Advocate and Political Activist
St. Clair was more than a criminal figure. She actively used her influence and wealth to support her community. She took out ads in Harlem newspapers, educating residents about their legal rights, encouraging voter registration, and condemning police brutality.
Her outspoken stance against police corruption drew the ire of local authorities. In retaliation, she was arrested on false charges and served eight months in a workhouse. Upon release, she testified before the Seabury Commission, a New York State investigation into judicial and police corruption. Her testimony helped bring down over a dozen corrupt officers.
War with the Mafia
The end of Prohibition in 1933 left organized crime syndicates looking for new revenue streams. Enter Dutch Schultz, a Bronx mobster who sought to dominate Harlem’s numbers racket. Schultz used intimidation, violence, and even police collusion to force policy bankers to pay protection.
But St. Clair, with her enforcer Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, stood firm. She refused Schultz’s demands and retaliated by exposing his operations to the police, leading to a raid that netted $12 million in illegal earnings. She also attacked Schultz’s betting operations and encouraged her loyal numbers runners to stay independent.
Although she survived the Mafia’s assault on Harlem, the constant heat from law enforcement and organized crime forced her to retreat from the business. She passed control to Bumpy Johnson, who would later negotiate a truce with Lucky Luciano. Luciano agreed that Harlem rackets would be managed through Johnson, effectively ending Schultz’s grip on the territory.
The Death of Dutch Schultz
In 1935, Dutch Schultz was assassinated in a hit sanctioned by The Commission, the governing body of the American Mafia. Although St. Clair was not involved in the murder, she famously sent a telegram to his deathbed that read:
“As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”
The telegram made national headlines, cementing her legend as a woman who stared down the Mafia and survived.
Later Years and Legacy
By the 1940s, with Johnson at the helm of Harlem’s rackets, St. Clair receded from the criminal spotlight. She focused on legitimate ventures, political activism, and community work. She died in December 1969, a largely forgotten figure in mainstream history—but an enduring icon in Harlem lore.
St. Clair’s life is a striking portrait of resilience, leadership, and defiance. As a Black Caribbean woman navigating racism, sexism, and violence, she managed to dominate a dangerous underworld while advocating for justice and dignity in her community. She wasn’t just the “Queen of the Policy Rackets”—she was a pioneer for Black empowerment in one of America’s most turbulent eras.
St. Clair’s story remains a powerful reminder that history’s most influential figures are often those who challenge both the law and injustice—on their own terms.
