When Detroit played the numbers : gambling's history and cultural impact on the Motor City
(Book)
Author
Published
Detroit : Wayne State University Press, [2024].
ISBN
9780814350768, 0814350763
Physical Desc
xii, 257 pages ; 23 cm
Status
Copies
Location | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
Cambridge - New Books | 364.172 George | On Shelf |
Natick - New Books | 364.172/Geo/2024 | On Shelf |
More Details
Published
Detroit : Wayne State University Press, [2024].
Format
Book
Language
English
ISBN
9780814350768, 0814350763
Notes
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description
"A testament to the tenacious spirit embodied in Detroit culture and history, this account reveals how numbers gambling, initially an illegal enterprise, became a community resource and institution of solidarity for Black communities through times of racial disenfranchisement and labor instability. Author Felicia B. George sheds light on the lives of Detroit's numbers operators--many self-made entrepreneurs who overcame poverty and navigated the pitfalls of racism and capitalism by both legal and illegal means. Illegal lottery operators and their families and employees were often exposed to precarity and other adverse conditions, and they profited from their neighbors' hope to make it through another day. Despite scandal and exploitation, these operators and their families also became important members of the community, providing steady employment and financial support for local businesses. This book provides a glimpse into the rich culture and history of Detroit's Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods, linking the growing gambling scene there with key characters and moments in local history, including Joe Louis's rise to fame and the recall of a mayor backed by the Ku Klux Klan. In succinct and engrossing chapters, George explores issues of community, race, politics, and the scandals that sprang up along the way, discovering how "playing the numbers" grew from a state-proclaimed crime to an encouraged legal activity."--,Amazon.com.
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Citations
APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)
George, F. B. (2024). When Detroit played the numbers: gambling's history and cultural impact on the Motor City . Wayne State University Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)George, Felicia B.. 2024. When Detroit Played the Numbers: Gambling's History and Cultural Impact On the Motor City. Wayne State University Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)George, Felicia B.. When Detroit Played the Numbers: Gambling's History and Cultural Impact On the Motor City Wayne State University Press, 2024.
MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)George, Felicia B.. When Detroit Played the Numbers: Gambling's History and Cultural Impact On the Motor City Wayne State University Press, 2024.
Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.
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