Black Gangsters/ Guy Fisher

                                                     Guy Fisher

I decide to write about Guy Fisher, because he is a man of his word, which I will explain.  I guess rapper Cam'ron said it best about Guy Fisher, "Guy Fisher, Got damn that's my nigga" lyrics from Cam'ron a Harlem native.

This is a two-fold story about a man who sold drugs but was also a savior in the community.

For those who are to young to know this is for you! Before Big Meech and other celebrated African- American drug dealers, drug were controlled by other races of people like the Irish, Jews and Italians. But the drugs were sold in African- American communities across the United States.

There was a movement in the 1960s by small time Black drug peddlers who took all the risk, while the other races got rich off them. These black drug dealers came together pooling their money and resources together to take control of the drug (heroin) market in their communities. They even went to war with them over the drug business! One of the first men to organize a Black drug cartel was Frank "Black Caesar" Matthews.

But there were other Black drug dealers who did not fight against the other races but demand higher percentage of the profit, which meant getting into the distribution markets. One of the first successful organization was the Counsel, a group of African- American drug dealers from Harlem, New York under the leadership of Leroy "Nickey" Barnes.

The Counsel was setup similar to their parent supplier the Commission. The Commission was the governing body over the Italian mafia. The Counsel was the governing body over the Black drug dealers and the boroughs and territories they operated. Guy Fisher was second in command in the Counsel sort like the under boss in the Italian mafia. So when Nickey Barnes went to jail, Guy Fisher took over the leadership of the Counsel. Under Guy Fishers leadership the Counsel grow and expand to unbelievable levels and profits!

This growth is the stuff street dreams are made of! Guy Fisher and the Counsel had Rolls Royce cars, private jets, penthouses all over United States. But Guy Fisher pulled of the unbelievable when he bought the Apollo Theater in Harlem New York. This was a first time in history a Blackman had owned and operated the Apollo!

Now understanding what that really meant? As a Black performer when you played at the Apollo, that meant you had made it or you was on your way to be a major superstar in the entertainment business! Blacks had been performing at the Apollo since the 1920s. Most were under paid for their talent, while the White owners made huge profits of Black performers. So when Guy Fisher bought the Apollo in 1977 this was a huge step for Black people as whole! Black stars all over eagerly signed up to play at the Apollo when they found out a Blackman owned it!

But this same success along with jealous would be the undoing of Guy Fisher. Leroy "Nickey" Barnes became jealous of Guy Fisher accomplishments and superstar status!

The Apollo was working out a major deal with one of the television network for the Apollo to be televised. So when you start talking about making millions of dollars with major companies they want to know who owns and operates the business! When they found out a Blackman owned the Apollo, they want to know who he was and how did he get enough money to buy the Apollo. This investigation lead to the down fall of Guy Fisher along with Nickey Barnes testifying against Guy Fisher and the Counsel.

The Irony of this story is that different White mafia members owned and operated many entertainment venues including the Apollo, but not one of them was put under investigation for owning a club? So you can be a criminal and go legit, just don't be Black and go legit? "yeah right"! 

Guy Fisher was convicted to a life sentence in Federal prison where he remains to this day! Guy Fisher never told on anyone! He still regard as a Black hero!

Yes, he sold drugs, But Guy Fisher taught us to dream, reach for the stars! This idea has took off like a wild fire in the minds of young Black drug dealers! They fight and continue to fight to be a owner and operator of their own legit business, rather it be a record company, clothing store or car wash their are some that are trying to make it out of the streets!

Thank you, Guy Fisher for being a real Black Gangster!