{"product_id":"9781496244963-playing-to-the-end","title":"Playing to the End","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eElder Black Men, Placemaking, and Dominoes in Denver\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003ePlaying to the End\u003c\/i\u003e, Steve Bialostok immerses readers in the vibrant world of the card room at Denver’s Hiawatha Davis Jr. Recreation Center, where a group of older Black men gather to play dominoes, exchange playful banter known as “talking shit,” and cultivate a space of belonging. More than just a game, their gatherings are acts of Black placemaking – resisting cultural erasure, gentrification, and societal marginalization while fostering joy, resilience, and community.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Through five years of ethnographic study, Bialostok reveals how these men transform the card room into a sanctuary of identity and defiance, where humor and camaraderie become tools of self-determination. As they navigate the pressures of a changing neighborhood, their interactions affirm the power of play, talk, and collective memory in sustaining Black spaces. \u003ci\u003ePlaying to the End\u003c\/i\u003e is a compelling testament to the significance of these gatherings and the ongoing struggle for autonomy, cultural affirmation, and social connection in an inequitable world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56948152631670,"sku":"9781496244963","price":26.73,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_39375869_ddea3706-00d7-4635-86ea-e2a44f08de91.jpg?v=1767864308","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781496244963-playing-to-the-end","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}