Few Americans, black or white, recognize the degree to which early African American history is a maritime history. W. Jeffrey Bolster shatters the myth that black seafaring in the age of sail was limited to the Middle Passage. Seafaring was one of the most significant occupations among both enslaved and free black men between 1740 and 1865. Tens of thousands of black seamen sailed on lofty clippers and modest coasters. They sailed in whalers, warships, and privateers. Some were slaves, forced to work at sea, but by 1800 most were free men, seeking liberty and economic opportunity aboard ship.Bolster brings an intimate understanding of the sea to this extraordinary chapter in the formation of black America. Because of their unusual mobility, sailors were the eyes and ears to worlds beyond the limited horizon of black communities ashore. Sometimes helping to smuggle slaves to freedom, they were more often a unique conduit for news and information of concern to blacks.But for all its opportunities, life at sea was difficult. Blacks actively contributed to the Atlantic maritime culture shared by all seamen, but were often outsiders within it. Capturing that tension, Black Jacks examines not only how common experiences drew black and white sailors together--even as deeply internalized prejudices drove them apart--but also how the meaning of race aboard ship changed with time. Bolster traces the story to the end of the Civil War, when emancipated blacks began to be systematically excluded from maritime work. Rescuing African American seamen from obscurity, this stirring account reveals the critical role sailors played in helping forge new identities for black people in America.An epic tale of the rise and fall of black seafaring, Black Jacks is African Americans' freedom story presented from a fresh perspective.

Comic misadventures ensue when seventh-grader Jack tries to write the great American novel.

Long considered the underground bible for beating the game, Blackbelt in Blackjack has already earned players millions and millions of dollars. Newly revised and updated, this step-by-step blueprint for beating the casinos reveals exclusive tips and tricks used by the pros-including shuffle tracking, team play, multiple deck camouflage techniques, betting strategies for beginning and advanced players, and much more. Twenty-one power-packed chapters, plus a complete course on beating blackjack: the devastating red seven count, the high-low count, the zen count, the true count, and so much more. 328 pages

"A fascinating literary and historical document, the most insightful look at the Beat Generation." —Dan Wakefield, author of New York in the Fifties and Going All the Way First published in 1978, Jack's Book gives us an intimate look into the life and times of the "King of the Beats." Through the words of the close friends, lovers, artists, and drinking buddies who survived him, writers Barry Gifford and Lawrence Lee recount Jack Kerouac's story, from his childhood in Lowell, Massachusetts, to his tragic end in Florida at the age of forty-seven. Including anecdotes from an eclectic list of well-known figures such as Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, and Gore Vidal, as well as Kerouac's ordinary acquaintances, this groundbreaking oral biography—the first of its kind—presents us with a remarkably insightful portrait of an American legend and the spirit of a generation.

Short, concise and to the point. This blackjack book doesn't beat around the bush. It's easy to read, simple to understand and uncomplicated to apply. You can be playing, with this no card counting system, in just an afternoon and taking advantage of its 78% win average. Blackjack's Hidden Secrets, Win Without Counting shows you how to determine the exact amount of money you should bring to the casino and how to spot hot and cold trends. It will have you automatically betting more when you're hot, less when you're not and teaches you when to leave. Winning at blackjack is more than a possibility, it's a proven mathematical fact! This system also has its very own tutor card, which can be taken to the tables with you, so you'll never feel alone or lost for answers.