In this powerful return to New York’s Dark Side, Amanda dives deep into the untold story of Stephanie Saint Clair—a fierce, brilliant, and fearless woman of color who built a criminal empire in the heart of Harlem during the early 20th century.
Known as Madam Queen of Policy, Saint Clair battled not just poverty and racism, but corrupt cops, rival bankers, and even mafia boss Dutch Schultz. From her traumatic beginnings in the French Caribbean to her rise as a numbers game queen in Prohibition-era New York, this episode explores her harrowing experiences, sharp intellect, and unrelenting spirit that made her one of Harlem's most iconic underworld figures.
Despite enduring violence, betrayal, and imprisonment, Saint Clair emerged as a community advocate, civil rights champion, and living legend. This episode is a tribute to her legacy—and to the power of defiance.
Episode Transcript
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The intro theme for this podcast are sections of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons