Blackjack and Jive-Five

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 244 pages
• Published by: 1st Books Library February 10, 2003
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 075964148X
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0759641488
• Book Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 1.2 pounds

Book Description
Blackjack and Jive-Five is a humorous, bittersweet, adventure-filled story of heroes and villains, of laughter and despair--of a white police sergeant and his primarily black police unit dealing with internal acculturation phenomenon while also performing traditional police functions. This book boldly and constructively addresses one of the most controversial social issues of Twentieth Century America. Blackjack and Jive-Five chronicles a determined, positive response to cultural confrontation, organizational attitudes, and discrimination.

The true story of Blackjack and Jive-Five, though generously filled with humor and human drama, immerses readers into the day-to-day pressures experienced by a unit of black cops and their white sergeant confronting a white-dominated police culture. Go to a different kind of "office" with these exceptional street cops--to a cluttered vacant lot where they plan their "capers." Accompany the officers as they carry out their plans and return to the "office" with them for joyful celebration and critique. More importantly, know and feel the hearts and minds of a group of street cops also dealing with severe social circumstances. Readers of Blackjack and Jive-Five truly become part of a very special, history-making police unit-excitedly, joyfully, although sometimes painfully so.

From the Author
"Blackjack and Jive-Five" was many things. It was a police sergeant and a dozen or so police patrolmen-depending upon what time you happened to be counting. It was a work group, it was a social group, and it was a time. It remains, however, an entity in my mind that is timeless. It is a bittersweet memory; nevertheless, it is something that lives on and on. Whether or not it means as much to others as it does to me, I may never know. But it definitely was the most significant happening, time, place and human interaction of my life. It brought me the absolute extremes of feeling and emotion; it was the highest highs and the lowest lows. There was never mediocrity. "Blackjack and Jive-Five" was not my doing. It was the doing of a group of men who needed a place to show what they could do. I only provided the arena for the game to be played. In returning to that arena to tell our marvelous story, I have found my pulse and nerves soaring with excitement, followed at times by the pain and disappointment that often shadowed such excitement during the days of "Blackjack and Jive-Five". But there was always the next wonderful peak to look forward to. Telling this story has been a trip so worthy of the re-taking. Indeed, it foretells and builds anticipation for peaks yet to come.

Reader Reviews
This review is from: Blackjack and Jive-Five (Paperback) I heard my friends talking about this one. I finally tracked one down and really enjoyed it. Very, very exciting and a fast read. I'd like to read more from this author. If you haven't read it yet, you've got to get this book. You'll be talking about it at work for weeks.