Barnes was born in South Carolina in 1933, but he moved to Harlem as a child and grew up in the streets. Slowly, the lawlessness that gripped the area evolved into more stable working-class immigrant neighborhoods -- places like Little Italy, Chinatown, and the Lower East Side. In 1931, Dutch Schultz, a mobster, exercised control over the wealth of Harlem residents with perpetration of violence and blackmail involving banks, restaurants, and clubs taking advantage of his political and police contacts. The city which has become famous for the biggest Policy wheels, the largest funerals, the flashiest cars and the prettiest women, has built that reputation on one thing, money".

The result is that, since we don't have mobility, those of us who think we have talent have to hustle within circumscribed areas. By providing a sense of belonging, purpose, and hope for the future, these programs have helped to reduce the appeal of gangs and prevent young people from getting involved in criminal activity. The Council was known for its brutal tactics and its willingness to use violence to protect its interests.Malcolm X claims that Johnson was the person who set him towards the path of Islam before he went to jail when he was at his lowest point of addiction.

In his book Vampires, Dragons, and Egyptian Kings, Eric Schneider describes the New York City gangs of this period as "violent, short-lived, disorganized collections of misfits whose main purpose was thrill-seeking and immediate gratification. He catches the attention of a detective chief inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary, who is sent by Winston Churchill to free the city of street criminals.Although Johnson was known to be a brutal gangster, he still portrayed himself as a man of the people, often giving back to his community. In 2023, Keisha Sutton James supported the eventual winner, Yusef Salaam, against Inez Dickens in the Democratic Primary for City Council. Barnes was a major player in the Harlem drug trade, and he was known for his flamboyant lifestyle and his willingness to flaunt his wealth. In Harlem, the Bloods were known for their aggressive tactics and their involvement in violent crimes. On January 13, 2022, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on the renamed MGM+ on January 15, 2023.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Harlem was a breeding ground for some of the most notorious gangsters in American history. This conflict was between the Sicilian Morello-Terranova family and Brooklyn Camorra gangs led by Pellegrino Morano.This meant that gang activities went unchecked and frequently erupted into bloody riots between rivals. This allowed the Sicilians to maintain dominance and control over New York City and the remaining Camorra gangs joined forces with Sicilian gangs. Also making appearances are a young Cassius Clay (Deric Augustine), who would later change his name to Muhammad Ali, and boxer Doug Jones (Haaron Hines).