Daddy Was a Number Runner

Daddy Was A Number Runner provides a horrific historical and sociological picture of Harlem during the 1930's post-Renaissance era. The reader travels throughout the daily trials and tribulations of Francie Coffin, an adolescent girl living with her brothers, mother and father, who is a number runner. Statistically we know of the crime, deviance, poverty, fatherless homes and emerging welfare system but what we do not read about is the human elements; the feelings involved. Through Francie's own words and her dreams we are able to feel and capture Francie's plight. While Francie appears to be somewhat naïve she is also able to navigate the streets and people within Harlem. Francie serves as an errand girl for her father, gets into scuffles with her friend and is a victim of molestation. On the positive side she is an obedient daughter and sister, attends school and she loves to read. For Francie, reading and attending movies at the theater is her salvation from the madness.The book goes one step further to examine Black and Jewish relationships. These relationships are presented in the form of tenant/landlord, student/teacher, customer/business owner and domestic/employer and in each, the black characters appear to be the victims. While not harboring resentment towards Jews as a group, the characters demonstrate a dislike towards the individual because in each example the Black character is shown to be subservient towards the Jewish character for survival.The characters portrayed are captivating and one of the books largest strengths is the ability of Meriwether to show some positive aspects of the inhabitants. Through all of this despair we find love, kindness and support of family and neighbors, male pride, the importance of education, and compassion. The word community resonates throughout this story and the women are the backbone of this community. There is no happily ever after and everything is not neatly fixed at the conclusion for there is no conclusion. What we have is Francie's acceptance of her life and her community but also her ability to still dream of a different life. Meriwether has provided the reader with an assessment in the life of a small community but does not place blame on one entity. We, the reader, are able to empathize because Daddy Was A Number Runner offers a lesson in history that is relevant today. This is a story of family and the survival of it.

I was thinking today that this book has stayed on my mind all these years!All the years!I'm 34 and married three children , two of them of teenages. At the time I read this book I was a teen myself and would go to the library and take out alot of books to read. I read and I read. The thoughts of me reading this book were to be thoughtful and me hearing advise or just similar stories to my actual life. Growing up in Bushwick, Brooklyn,N.Y. was kind of similar. I guess I read to see this ending. So mine would be different... A great book....

This book was assigned for my English 3 class. I am a freshman in highschool. Most books I read that were assigned in school are boring at the beginning. This book is interesting from the beginning to the end. This book showed me how hard it was during the Depression in Harlem.Fracie tells how her and her family suffer with money and how hard it wasto live. Some people say that this book should not be recommended to teens but I am a teen and if they are mature enough to understand it then they should be able to read it. After we read this book our teacher took us on a trip to Harlem where Francie lived. We saw where she lived and how far she had to walk when she went to her Aunt Hazels house. We went on the trip because HArlem looked pretty much the same since the time this book took place. I enjoyed the book and I am sure other people as well as teens my age will enjoy this book. Great to use for a report based on the Great Depression.

I have been searching for this book since 1978. My sister checked it out at the local library during that time. I enjoyed reading it so much that I told my husband about it. We ordered it. I can't wait to read it again. I have read many black interest books, but I think that this one is my all time favorite. Throughout the struggles that Francie and her family faced, they still loved each other very much. Their neighbors in the story were also very close. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Read it when I was 15.Very poor during childhood.Book gave me inspiration.Changed the way I felt about life. Remember the story all the time. Now I'm 36.You can call me quite successful. Running ownbusiness and a very happy family. Wants my children to read it too.