{"product_id":"playing-to-the-end-elder-black-men-placemaking-and-dominoes-in-denver-paperback","title":"Playing to the End: Elder Black Men, Placemaking, and Dominoes in Denver - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eSteve Bialostok\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003ePlaying to the End\u003c\/em\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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough 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. \u003cem\u003ePlaying to the End\u003c\/em\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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteve Bialostok\u003c\/strong\u003e is a professor of anthropology at the University of Wyoming. He is the coeditor of \u003cem\u003eEducation and the Risk Society: Theories, Discourse, and Risk Identities in Education Contexts\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSteve Bialostok\u003c\/b\u003e is a professor of anthropology at the University of Wyoming. He is the coeditor of \u003ci\u003eEducation and the Risk Society: Theories, Discourse, and Risk Identities in Education Contexts\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 246\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.56 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 01, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51978231775533,"sku":"9781496244963","price":50.35,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/3185\/6429\/files\/dyKwCiDLXK9781496244963.webp?v=1775801161","url":"https:\/\/ishookbooks.com\/products\/playing-to-the-end-elder-black-men-placemaking-and-dominoes-in-denver-paperback","provider":"iShook Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}