The Original American Gangster Speaks: Mr. Untouchable DVD

By Monica Medina

Barnes has some harsh words in this documentary about his former partners in crime who are now doing life with no parole.

The documentary, Mr. Untouchable, is amazing, daunting, graphic and painfully honest in its depiction. I usually do not like to push anything that glorifies drugs or violence but this is a film that young people who are in “the game” should watch. Nicky Barnes made $72 million dollars annually from the drug trade in Harlem during the 70’s. One can only imagine how many lives and generations of African Americans he killed making revenue of that magnitude. He was such a “public figure” that he actually posed for the cover New York Magazine with a blue denim suit and red and white tie after being acquitted. He was donned “Mr. Untouchable.” However that was where his troubles began. Then President Jimmy Carter wanted his head on a platter after reading the article.

Somewhat of a prequel to American Gangster, Mr. Untouchable is narrated by Nicky Barnes himself who is now under the Federal Witness Protection program. Barnes narrates the documentary with only his hands in view. After doing a 21 year bid in prison, it is obvious that he his still living well. This is evident by the very expensive watch and ring he has on his finger. Barnes goes into depth in this documentary even down to his ex-wife (who is in the documentary and served 10 years in prison) and his then mistress who was murdered while Nicky was in prison to send him a message to think twice about “snitching.” His views about snitching will make the new school of drug dealers of today upset. An avid reader of Machiavelli, Barnes has some harsh words in this documentary about his former partners in crime who are now doing life with no parole. Let’s just say he could care less about them to put it politely. Think there is loyalty in the game? Think again.