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Title: Daddy was a Number Runner by Louise Meriwether ISBN: 1-55861-442-7 Publisher: The Feminist Press at CUNY Pub. Date: 15 November, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.88 (8 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Impressed...
Comment: From beginning to end, the book was enjoyable. Brutally honest and very mature, but an excellent read. Many times hit close to home, others were a learning experience (like the use of rags, the electric hair on juveniles, etc.) It was a quick read that I didn't want to finish!
Rating: 5
Summary: Some Ole' School Truths
Comment: Daddy Was A Number Runner provides a horrific historical and sociological picture of Harlem during the 1930's post-Renaissance era. The reader travels throughout the daily trials and tribulations of Francie Coffin, an adolescent girl living with her brothers, mother and father, who is a number runner.
Statistically we know of the crime, deviance, poverty, fatherless homes and emerging welfare system but what we do not read about is the human elements; the feelings involved. Through Francie's own words and her dreams we are able to feel and capture Francie's plight. While Francie appears to be somewhat naïve she is also able to navigate the streets and people within Harlem. Francie serves as an errand girl for her father, gets into scuffles with her friend and is a victim of molestation. On the positive side she is an obedient daughter and sister, attends school and she loves to read. For Francie, reading and attending movies at the theater is her salvation from the madness.
The book goes one step further to examine Black and Jewish relationships. These relationships are presented in the form of tenant/landlord, student/teacher, customer/business owner and domestic/employer and in each, the black characters appear to be the victims. While not harboring resentment towards Jews as a group, the characters demonstrate a dislike towards the individual because in each example the Black character is shown to be subservient towards the Jewish character for survival.
The characters portrayed are captivating and one of the books largest strengths is the ability of Meriwether to show some positive aspects of the inhabitants. Through all of this despair we find love, kindness and support of family and neighbors, male pride, the importance of education, and compassion. The word community resonates throughout this story and the women are the backbone of this community.
There is no happily ever after and everything is not neatly fixed at the conclusion for there is no conclusion. What we have is Francie's acceptance of her life and her community but also her ability to still dream of a different life. Meriwether has provided the reader with an assessment in the life of a small community but does not place blame on one entity. We, the reader, are able to empathize because Daddy Was A Number Runner offers a lesson in history that is relevant today. This is a story of family and the survival of it.
Rating: 4
Summary: A Timeless Treasure
Comment: Reading Daddy Was A Number Runner for the second time as an adult was like visiting an old friend. I first read the novel when I was in junior high and the only thing I remembered from it was this freaky movie theater scene. That and the fact that it was good. Now that I am grown, I took a lot more away from it this time.
Francie is twelve and growing up in 1930's Harlem. She has two older brothers who have totally different aspirations in life. One wants to be a hoodlum and the other wants to quit school to become an undertaker. Her father, a number runner of course, is too proud to go onto public assistance and that causes a lot of turmoil between her parents. She has a best friend that likes to beat her up most of the time. Old white men try to feel her up whenever they get a chance. Francie really endures a lot for a person her age. If you are into period novels, this is a must read because it gives insight in a generation we know nothing about.
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Title: The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters by Tonya Bolden ISBN: 1558506470 Publisher: Adams Media Corporation Pub. Date: November, 1997 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall ISBN: 1558611495 Publisher: The Feminist Press at CUNY Pub. Date: April, 1996 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Getting Mother's Body : A Novel by Suzan-Lori Parks ISBN: 1400060222 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 06 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
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Title: Diary of a Groupie : A Novel by Omar Tyree ISBN: 0743228677 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 17 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Never Forget the Bridge That Crossed You Over by Adriene Pickett ISBN: 1401081029 Publisher: Xlibris Corporation Pub. Date: March, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.99 |
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