checkers in the Jim Crow south

[author]

Hello, I'm a children's author working on a book about playing checkers in Birmingham AL at a time when it was unlawful for blacks and whites to play any sport, including checkers, together. I am looking for any first-hand accounts of playing checkers during this era, especially anecdotes of games between black and white players. I wondered if anyone on this board might be able to help me out on this. Thank you!

[JohnAcker]

You might get in touch with Alex Weaver, awgodzilla@yahoo.com. He's too young to have lived through Jim Crow, but he may have some contacts who would know the era/region. Also, it's likely that most black checker players at that time played pool checkers, so check with the ACPA as well: http://www.americanpoolcheckers.us/amer ... lcheckers/.

[john reade]

Does anyone know why the Blacks played pool checkers whilst the Whites played straight checkers? Pool checkers is identical to German draughts (damespiel) as played in the 19th century. Was there a German presence in certain areas of America?

[jaguar72]

Hello, I'm a children's author working on a book about playing checkers in Birmingham AL at a time when it was unlawful for blacks and whites to play any sport, including checkers, together. I am looking for any first-hand accounts of playing checkers during this era, especially anecdotes of games between black and white players. I wondered if anyone on this board might be able to help me out on this. Thank you!

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee mentions checkers and checker-playing (not between blacks and whites, however) two or three times.

It is, of course, the longest of long shots, but perhaps a letter to Miss Lee would be worthwhile.

V/R,

Gary Jenkins/jaguar72

[JohnAcker]

Pool checkers is identical to German draughts (damespiel) as played in the 19th century. Was there a German presence in certain areas of America?

There was a substantial German immigrant presence in the 19C, but I believe it was mainly in the Northeast-- the "Pennsylvania Dutch" are the best known group. So I'm not sure if there's a specific connection between the two games, given that a lot of the variants are so similar in the first place.

[George Hay]

author, for checkers in the United States the tradition was that whites played straight checkers, and blacks played pool checkers. I have wondered what the effect of segregation has been on checkers. Straight Checkers is ACF checkers. Pool Checkers, with men jumping backwards and kings moving like bishops in chess is APCA checkers. For 10x10 International Checkers, a.k.a. Big Board Checkers, a new American organization is ICAONA. For a portrait of an African-American straight checkers player see http://www.wylliedraughts.com/ under Famous Players and you will find George M. Tanner. The APCA website has a history page, although it incorrectly identifies straight checkers champion Newell Banks as Newell Brooks(sic). I have learned much from the Dutch Historian Arie van der Stoep at http://www.draughtshistory.nl/ as well as Charles "Pecan" Thompson at http://hspccc.com/ Good luck with the book, and please keep us posted.
--George Hay...America plays checkers: straight, pool, and big board!

[George Hay]

Our friends at the ACF forum have interesting comments on Pool Checkers in General Discussion>>>Why Pool Checkers may be more popular than Straight Checkers. The last Post, to find the Topic, was on Feb. 21, 2008. Also, J.B. Alemanni has a history of various forms of checkers on his website. http://alemanni.pagesperso-orange.fr/index.html While the History section is general, if you click on the individual game, such as Pool, you get a specific history. Last but not least, Gary has convinced me to read To Kill a Mockingbird. --George Hay

[jaguar72]

Last but not least, Gary has convinced me to read To Kill a Mockingbird. --George Hay

Excellent post, Mr. Hay.

Concerning To Kill a Mockingbird, you won't be disappointed...the book fully deserves every bit of the praise that has been heaped on it over the past fifty years.

The checkers allusions are very brief, however, but very good.

V/R,

Gary Jenkins/jaguar72

[neilwenberg]

This is an interesting subject to me, I did not realize this thread existed. I am avidly interested in military history and the Tuskeegee Airmen are one of the topics I have done research on. Also I enjoy pool checkers and except for the Barbadoes bunch most skilled black checker players play pool checkers, which is another fine game that whites should try. It took me 4 pool checker tournaments before I was able to win more than I lost at such an event, and I played in the bottom (blue ribbon) class.

[neilwenberg]

I bet that Jay Hinershzitz has some interesting material on this topic, try to get him to submit some!!!