Who Are These People: A Story about Bridge Players in the Washington Bridge Unit [Large Print] [Paperback]

Cassandra Foster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 29, 2008

This book contains stories about African American men and women. They all turned at least 80 years old by May 1, 2008. They have in common membership in a duplicate bridge club¿the Washington Bridge Unit where they play the card game bridge. The book contains several stories, with one story for each subject or married couple. The stories are based on taped interviews of the subjects made between May 1, 2007 and May 16, 2008. To help with the time perspective, the date of the interview is at the end of each story. The location point of view is Washington, DC. The stories in the book tell about the lives of the subjects¿when and where they were born, where they grew up, their careers, their families, their struggles, and their philosophies of life. There are pictures of the subjects. The stories include how bridge was introduced into their lives and how they came to be members of the Washington Bridge Unit. Keeping with the bridge tradition, these stories discuss the subjects using their first names. These people are the trailblazers. They have worked hard. You will find that most of these persons are still active in competitive tournament bridge. Most are currently church members, and most are still quite active in the church. Many are voracious readers, travel extensively, and have other hobbies. They appear youthful and healthy. They are close to their families. They are lively, insightful, and accomplished African American men and women. They have lived life in these United States and survived. They are enjoying life. So much inspiration and good advice in one place!

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Mildred C. Smith (June 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097786412X
• ISBN-13: 978-0977864126
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,909,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars View by a Bridge Expert, September 12, 2008

By 

D. I. Berman (Laurel, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Who Are These People: A Story about Bridge Players in the Washington Bridge Unit (Paperback)

Cassandra Foster, better known to bridge players as Cassandra Smith has written a book about bridge players. As she describes them "These people are the trailblazers." They are all African Americans each at least 80 years old this year and active in the Washington Bridge Unit of the American Bridge Association.

There are 18 vignettes arranged alphabetically from Mildred Anderson to Elizabeth Woods. If you like people and reading about them, as I do, then you will like this book. It tells you about each person's life, documenting their education, job experience, religion, outlook on life, and most importantly their love of bridge.

As you might expect from a large group living in the D.C. area many worked for the federal government getting to meet famous personalities along the way. Others went into the teaching profession and it is clear that education played a large role in each of their lives.

Each was asked about the relationship between the ABA and the ACBL and where it is going in the future. There are mixed opinions which I found both interesting and informative. Clearly historical discrimination when these persons were younger plays a role in these opinions although each was able to overcome this both in bridge and their lives.