Bid Whist has been the card game of choice of iconic, transformational figures like Justice Thurgood Marshall, Magic Johnson, and President Barack Obama, as well as myriad other strivers and achievers. It is one of the world’s most swift, complex and fun card games, and it is poised to become America’s Next Great Card Game. Bid Whist has been a cultural touchstone in African-American communities for generations.
During the early part of the twentieth century, this complex brew of a game was originated and passionately embraced by Black Americans, especially by military men and members of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.
The Pullman Porters not only helped popularize the game throughout the country, but also contributed the game’s geography-related phrases from their train journeys. Now, terms like “uptown,” “downtown” and “Boston”—which in Bid Whist parlance means winning all the tricks in a given hand—are integral to the game.
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Spirited Bid Whist games have animated not only the everyday gatherings of friendly card competitors, but also family reunions, fight parties, class reunions, fraternity galas and the conventions of major organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Black Congressional Caucus and the National Association of Black Journalists.
Stories of individuals who “almost flunked out of college” because of time spent playing Bid Whist rather than attending or studying for class are part of the game’s lore.
But Bid Whist’s popularity has declined in recent decades. Now, younger people regard the game as a Civil Rights-era relic enjoyed only by older people. This decline is at least partially attributable to the fact that much of Bid Whist has been shrouded in mystery.
Bid Whist players often—perhaps inadvertently—make the capacity to play seem unexplainable and almost mystical. Instead of cogent explanations, a beginner’s questions about scoring and other fundamental aspects of the game are often met with a dizzying cacophony of rules, examples, tips, nuances, exceptions and tangentially-related anecdotes—all of which, taken together, obscure more than they illuminate.
There is no reason why Bid Whist—even for a beginner—should be a punishing or confusing experience. The defining characteristic of the best bid whist gatherings is fun.
True Bid Whist masters impress by pairing outstanding card skills with wit and verbal acuity. And the best Bid Whist games mesh seamlessly with watching the Game or the Fight, discussing the issues of the day, and enjoying good music and—crucially—your favorite, most delicious foods.
Sound card skills and solid Bid Whist mechanics are the key that opens the door to the fun, fellowship, camaraderie and competitive thrills of Bid Whist. In the weeks leading up to the Allstate Tom Joyner Family Reunion, we will make that key available by sharing Bid Whist stories and clear principles to de-mystify the game for card players of all ages and skill levels to welcome them to the fascinating world of Bid Whist.
And onsite in Orlando, we will not only indulge Bid Whist aficionados by allowing them to test their skills at the inaugural Bid Whist Slam!, we will continue to welcome new players to the game with the “Bid Whist In About An Hour” workshop.
Don’t miss the opportunity to further your personal connection with fellow card players, with the values of strategic excellence, competition and teamwork that animate the game, and with the grand cultural legacy of the historic card game Bid Whist.
In the meantime, share your favorite Bid Whist memory with us here on BlackAmericaWeb.com!
Bid Whist at the 2014 Allstate Tom Joyner Family Reunion
Saturday, August 30th | 9a-5p
• Bid Whist Workshops & Free Play
• Cracker Barrel Step-Show
• Live Performances
Sunday, August 31st | 12p-5p
• Bid Whist Tournament & Prizing
• Motown Gospel Revue’s
“Living the Gospel Roundtable” featuring Anita Wilson, Smokie Norful, Kierra Sheard & Vashawn Mitchel
(Photo:Asimzb via Wikipedia)
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REGISTER NOW for the 2014 Allstate Tom Joyner Family Reunion taking place August 28- September 1, 2014 in Orlando, Florida! For booking information visit here.
