Little Known Black History Fact: Real-Life Atlantic City Gangsters

HBO’s Boardwalk Empire has been a smash hit for the network, praised for its dramatic portrayal of Atlantic City in the Prohibition Era. In the program, Black characters play a prominent role in the intricate plot and are based on actual historical figures.

Actor Michael K. Williams, known for his role on The Wire plays savvy gangster Albert “Chalky” White on the program. Jeffrey Wright, who plays the distinguished yet mysterious Dr. Valetin Narcisse, joins him.

The real Chalky White was a Mexican-born boxer who served as a bodyguard to actress Mae West. West backed White’s career as a boxer, and he became a flyweight champion in the ’40s.

There have been rumors that White and West were lovers, a claim echoed by West’s ex-husband in a divorce filing. On the show, White is the de factor “mayor” of Atlantic City for the Black community and handles certain tasks for the notorious Nucky Thompson.

According to Wright, Narcisse is said to be modeled after Harlem number-running kingpin Casper Holstein. Holstein was a millionaire who used his illegal earnings to give back to the community-at-large.

There are also flourishes of scholar Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois and Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey in the character. Like White, Dr. Narcisse lives by a certain code to get the things he wants.

In real life, Black gangsters in Atlantic City would surface much later in the ’70s and 80s. During the timeline in the show, many Blacks were forced to dwell in the city’s Northside section and away from much of the action.

Also of note is that the city itself was largely built on the backs of Black people, as noted by author Nelson Johnson in his book, “The Northside.”

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