When Casper Holstein began studying the yearly totals of a money exchange, a genius idea sparked. Until then, most lotteries were easily rigged, but Holstein used the numbers to produce random three-digit combinations.
He was about to change the game.
Holstein's innovation, The Numbers, was a hit, creating a thriving underground economy in Harlem. Running numbers sustained the livelihoods of many families for decades, especially during trying times like The Great Depression.
Until THEY wanted in.
Sixty percent of Black economic life relied on cash flow generated by the numbers, which provided about 100,000 jobs across New York City and New York State wanted a piece of the pie. Money from the numbers helped Colin Powell's father purchase their family home. Even Lena Horne's father was a numbers operator.
But the numbers wasn't only about individual gains. This cooperative economy supported much of our community, from bankrolling small businesses to contributing to political candidates' campaigns. It also had a long-term impact, creating generational wealth for many Black families.
The numbers was about sharing economics and resources, and although it was co-opted, they could never take the spirit of communalism that's always been a part of who we are. We must always find ways to support each other and create our own systems.