Congratulations to the 2012 winners of the Law and Society Association James Willard Hurst Jr. Prize in Socio-Legal History! The two co-winners are Amy Chazkel, for Laws of Chance: Brazil’s Clandestine Lottery and the Making of Urban Public Life, Duke University Press and Daniel J. Sharfstein for The Invisible Line: Three American Families and the Secret Journey From Black to White, Penguin Press.
While I did not read Amy Chazkel’s book, it sounds quite interesting. According to The George Washington University magazine, GWmagazine:
The book explores the origins and evolution of the clandestine Brazilian lottery called the jogo do bicho, or “animal game”—a precursor to the informal economies that have become a central part of daily life in urban Latin America.”
I did read The Invisible Line, and it was wonderful. My review appeared previously, here. As I noted in my review:
This outstanding history of the concept of race in America focuses on the overlooked mass migration from black to white as many African Americans gave up their identities in return for the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The Sharfstein book is an important and creative approach to African-American history in this country. Highly recommended!
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