The book explains how the War on Drugs and harsher penalties for drug crimes have led to a monumental increase in the incarceration of African Americans, who, after receiving felonies for said crimes, are further discriminated against, just as with the Jim Crow laws of the past.
I enjoyed introducing my Mozambican friends to the games "White Elephant", "Jingle Your Bells," and "Plate Drawing"!
"White Elephant" is a game ideal for multiple participants. Each participant purchases a present that has a minimum meticais (or dollar) value. This is typically done some time before everyone gathers together, usually for Christmas. Once together, everyone places the presents in the middle of the room and count the number of participants. On separate scraps of paper, you write the number of those participating starting with one, two, etc. These scraps are placed in a hat or box and drawn one at a time by each participant. This designates the order and Number One is allowed to choose a present from the center. Upon opening it, this participant is required to keep what is opened. The following participants, however, are allowed to open a new present or steal a present from the previous person. If a present is stolen, it can only be stolen two times. Upon the third time, the present remains in the possession of the last person who claimed it. It became very competitive for us, as you might imagine!
"Jingle Your Bells" was a more active game that involved tying a kleenex/shoebox around our waists with rope. Inside were placed two small balls. The object of the game was to dance and bob in such a way that the balls would escape the opening.
