Fannie eschewed working a menial job that would do nothing to actually get the family out of their poverty and would require that she leave their children to take care of each other. worked at an automobile factory, but he was often out of work and the family lived in terrible conditions when they arrived in the city. They were hoping for better jobs and better race relations in Detroit, Michigan, but they found that was not the case. had married in Nashville, Tennessee, but joined the many families moving North during the 1950s and 60s. Playing Numbers became an integral part of the social network and a multi-million-dollar business, despite the fact that it was illegal.įannie and John T. The game allowed players to bet a small amount of money on a three-digit number, with a 500-1 payout for winners.

A black man came up with the idea in the early 1900s, and it became an important part of black culture. Numbers referred to the business of taking bets on a three-digit number, with the winning numbers determined and announced in various ways over the years.

Bridgett was the youngest child of the family and was born after her mother had launched a business based on the Numbers in Detroit.

Kindle AZW file.īridgett Davis was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Fannie and John T. Hachette Book Group, New York, New York, 2019. The following version of the book was used to create this study guide: Davis, Bridgett M., The World According to Fannie Davis: My Mother's Life in the Detroit Numbers.

The world according to fannie davis