There are many iconic Black gangster characters, but this list is reserved for those who are not only ruthless but savvy and well...brilliant. Oftentimes, their intelligence led to arrogance, which ultimately led to their downfall. But what if they decided to pursue something other than a life of crime? What if they used their intellect for good?
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Recently, Big Meech (the real version), was released from prison after 16 years, which gave us the perfect reason to revisit the smartest Black gangster characters and careers they could’ve pursued if they weren’t criminals.
Meech - “BMF”
Lil Meech has the unique role of playing his real father in the Starz TV show, “BMF.” The real Big Meech started BMF Entertainment as a front for his drug organization and helped release music for legit hip-hop artists. He could’ve easily used his smarts to become a hip-hop mogul
Stringer Bell - “The Wire”
In Baltimore, you have to be ruthless and cunning. While Stringer was those things, he was also infatuated with the more “business” side of things. He tried to make legitimate money outside the drug game and even took a macroeconomics class. He took what he learned and applied it to his drug dealing business. If he never died off of the show, he could’ve become a major legitimate player in the real estate business. In the show, he attempted to bring Avon Barksdale into the real estate game, which eventually led to their relationship eroding.
Gustavo Fring - “Breaking Bad”
One of the greatest villains in TV history, anything Giancarlo Esposito touches is gold. His most iconic role was as Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad. He was everything you want a villain to be cunning, brilliant, resourceful, and just flat-out scary. He owned a fried chicken restaurant chain and used it as a front to start a drug dealing business. If he had focused solely on his Chicken Restaurant, who knows how big he could’ve made it? He definitely would’ve given Popeyes a run for its money.
Marilyn “Madam” DeVille - “All the Queen’s Men”
Madam is a businesswoman who rules the nightclub industry in Atlanta. She uses all of her skills and connections to make sure she stays at the top of her game, even if others attempt to take her down. With her connections and influence, she could become the mayor of the city.
Snoop - “The Wire”
Snoop is arguably the most frightening character in The Wire, taking out anybody Marlo asked her to. But, she was also extremely savvy and always learning to learn. In the opening scene of season 4 (the greatest season of television), while shopping for a nail gun, she learned about all the equipment she would need and the best version of the nail gun to get her job done. It was a larger representation of how characters in the show were willing to learn if it benefited the lifestyle they were living in. If she wasn’t in Marlo’s crew, she possibly could’ve become an FBI agent or secret service.
Bumpy Johnson - “Godfather of Harlem”
Based on a real gangster, Bumpy Johnson had no choice but to be smart with his moves. He was a Black crime boss operating during the early to mid-20th century. He was also a man who was extremely generous to the people in his community, instead of being a symbol of crime, he could’ve become a local politician.
Frank Lucas - “American Gangster”
Also based on a real-life gangster, Frank Lucas was able to smuggle heroin directly from Vietnam on planes returning from the Vietnam War. Beloved in the community, Lucas was a charismatic and smooth individual who could convince anybody to do anything. He’d be an expert salesman, running a company as big as Apple, almost like a Black Steve Jobs.
Proposition Joe - “The Wire”
The king of Baltimore on the east side, Proposition Joe is one of the most quotable characters in the show. He also is the one who started a co-op in the city, to make sure that all the dealers in the city get the best dope to sell. This man could’ve been an agent, lawyer or any profession where deals have to be made. His name is Proposition Joe for crying out loud.
Franklin Saint - “Snowfall”
Franklin Sainr started as a 19-year-old convenience store worker and became the most notorious and powerful drug kingpin in South Central Los Angeles. That takes being extremely smart and savvy. He’s young and motivated. If he wasn’t in the drug game, he could’ve become an entrepreneur, creating a product that could benefit his community instead of hurting it.
Lex Luthor - “Superman: The Animated Series”
I know other versions of Lex Luthor are white, but in the animated series, he was the coolest brother on the show. The man was CEO of his own company and constantly outsmarts the strongest man in the universe, of course, he’s a genius.
Marlo - “The Wire”
Out of all the drug dealers who were the “crown” in Baltimore, Marlo was by far the most ruthless and cold-blooded. But don’t get it twisted, it was his smarts that got him to the top, taking out the necessary competition to make sure he stayed number one. Someone as cutthroat as Marlo could’ve easily been the founder and CEO of a rap label or a record company.
Veronica Rawlings - “Widows”
An underrated film in Viola Davis’ amazing filmography. In this film, Rawlings and three others plan to steal millions of dollars from a corrupt local politician. Naturally, Davis’ character comes up with a brilliant plan to get the job done. In the movie, she’s a teachers’ union delegate in Chicago, but if she wanted to, she could’ve become a politician herself.
Nine Ball - “Ocean’s 8"
This might be a reach, but I just have a lot of fun with this movie. Rihanna plays a master hacker who knows any and everything that has to do with technology. With her help, the crew of eight women is able to pull off a major heist during the famous Met-Gala. Nine Ball has the smarts to work for any tech company she wants to.
Ghost - “Power”
Fans are still waiting for Ghost to return to the Power series. He was the most polarizing character. In the show, he’s the owner of one of the hottest clubs in New York and also one of its biggest crime bosses. If he wasn’t raised in a life of crime, he could’ve just run the nightclub game and made lots of money from that. He’d also still be alive.
Avon Barksdale - “The Wire”
The original king of Baltimore. Even though he famously said, “I’m just a gangsta I suppose,” Avon still was able to outsmart other gangsters in B-More. At the end of season 3, he outsmarted his best friend and right-hand man, Stringer Bell, which ultimately led to both of their downfalls. In the show, before he was a drug dealer, Avon was a talented Boxer. In another universe, possibly Avon becomes a brilliant op boxing agent.
Kanan - “Power”
In the show, Kanan was the former mentor of Ghost, so it only makes sense that he’s just as intelligent considering he taught him a lot of what he knows about the crime world. Kanan was raised in a family of gangsters, but if things were different, he could’ve been raised as someone who protected people and not just someone who took people out. Hell, he could’ve become a professional wrestler or MMA fighter.
Tariq St. Patrick - “Power”
The son of Ghost made a lot of mistakes during his criminal journey, but he’s proved to be just as intelligent as his father, even if he’s naive at times. Similar to his father, Tariq has the experience to become an owner of a business or club. He’s currently in college, so if he decides to walk away from the crime life, the world is his oyster.
Brother Mouzone - “The Wire”
Brother Mouzone was a quiet monster. He didn’t say much, but when he did, it was always profound. Oftentimes in the show, you can see him reading a book (when he’s not sent to take someone out). Since he loved books so much, he could’ve easily become a professor at a major university and taught history. Too bad he was too worried about murdering drug dealers.
Tristan - “Blue Hill Avenue”
Tristan is on this list because he had the smarts to get out of the drug game in Boston after being in it for his whole life. He would be perfect as a motivational speaker for younger kids, influencing them to find a different path than the one he took.
Tommy Gibbs - “Black Caesar”
Even though he was brutally assaulted by a cop as partially crippled, he still grew up to become the head of his own crime organization in Harlem.
Marcel Dumas - “Queen of the South”
This Creole crime boss was part of the New Orleans criminal underworld. But thanks to his connections to the Queen of the South, he was able to become a legitimate businessman. So unlike many other characters on this list, we can see his potential.
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