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The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City
Nelson Johnson frequently stopped working on Boardwalk Empire to wrestle with how best to handle the thorny subject of race. But he persisted, and the result was a chapter--"A Plantation by the Sea"--that inspired this powerful sequel. In The Northside , Johnson brings the untold story of Atlantic City's black community vividly to life, from the arrival of the first African Americans to Absecon Island in the early 19th century through the glory days of the "World's Playground." Drawing on dozens of personal interviews and painstaking archival research, he reveals long-forgotten details about the people on whose backs the gambling mecca was built and offers a wide-ranging survey of the accomplishments of more recent generations. Exploited for their labor and banished to the most undesirable part of town, resilient Northsiders created a vibrant city within a city a place where black culture could thrive and young people could aspire to become artists, athletes, educators, and leaders of business, politics, and society. As Nelson Johnson shows in this unflinching portrait, Atlantic City was built on their toil and the Northside was born of their dreams.
358 pages, Hardcover
Published November 29, 2010
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About the author
Nelson Johnson
12 books40 followersNelson Johnson practiced law for thirty years and was a New Jersey Superior Court trial judge for thirteen years. In addition to his award-winning Boardwalk Empire, Johnson is also the author of award-winning The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City (November 2010) and Battleground New Jersey: Vanderbilt, Hague, and Their Fight for Justice (December 2014). Johnson’s courtroom experience makes him uniquely qualified to tell this story, set in the last days of the “wild west” in Los Angeles. Darrow’s Nightmare: Los Angeles 1911-1913 is Johnson’s fourth book.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 19, 2023
The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City" by Nelson Johnson is a historical account of the role of African Americans in the development of Atlantic City, New Jersey. The book provides a detailed insight into the social and economic conditions of African Americans in Atlantic City, their struggle for civil rights, and the development of the city's black community.
Some of the key takeaways from the book are:
The role of African Americans in the development of Atlantic City: The book highlights the important contributions of African Americans to the growth and development of Atlantic City. African American entrepreneurs, such as Sarah Spencer Washington and Robert B. White, played a crucial role in creating and sustaining the city's black community.
The struggle for civil rights: The book describes the long and difficult struggle of African Americans for civil rights in Atlantic City. It details the efforts of local activists, such as the Reverend Collins and the Reverend Preston, to fight against segregation and discrimination in the city.
The impact of segregation: The book explains how segregation affected the lives of African Americans in Atlantic City. It shows how segregation limited the opportunities available to African Americans, and how it created a separate and unequal society in the city.
The resilience of the black community: Despite the challenges they faced, the book shows how the black community in Atlantic City remained resilient and determined. It highlights the strength and perseverance of African American families, churches, and businesses in the face of adversity.
The legacy of the Northside: The book highlights the legacy of the Northside, the black community that developed in Atlantic City. It shows how the Northside was a vibrant and thriving community, and how it had a lasting impact on the history and culture of Atlantic City.
Overall, "The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City" is a powerful and important account of the role of African Americans in the history of Atlantic City. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of the black community, and a reminder of the ongoing struggle for civil rights and social justice.
here are a few interesting facts from "The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City":
Atlantic City was initially developed as a health resort for wealthy white visitors, but it was the black community that made it a popular vacation destination. African American entrepreneurs such as Sarah Spencer Washington and Robert B. White developed their own hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs, which attracted black tourists from all over the country.
One of the most significant events in the struggle for civil rights in Atlantic City was the fight against segregated beaches. In 1964, local activists staged a series of protests and "wade-ins" on the beach to demand that it be opened to everyone, regardless of race.
The Northside, the black community that developed in Atlantic City, was a hub of African American culture and entertainment. It was home to many famous jazz musicians, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong, who performed in local nightclubs and venues.
The book details how the political machine of Atlantic City, led by Enoch "Nucky" Johnson, exploited and manipulated the black community for their own gain. Johnson used his power to control the economy and political landscape of the city, but his reign came to an end after he was arrested and convicted of corruption.
The book also highlights the important role of women in the black community in Atlantic City. Women like Sara Spencer Washington and Fannie Lou Hamer were entrepreneurs and activists who fought for civil rights and economic opportunity for their community.
The book also mentions the story of a remarkable baseball player named John Henry Lloyd, who was born in Florida in 1884 and grew up in Atlantic City.
Lloyd was considered one of the greatest baseball players of his time and played in the Negro Leagues from 1906 to 1932. He was known for his exceptional defense and his ability to hit for both average and power.
In the book, Nelson Johnson writes about how Lloyd was a local hero in Atlantic City and how his achievements helped to inspire and uplift the black community. Despite facing discrimination and limited opportunities due to segregation, Lloyd's talent and success on the baseball field helped to break down barriers and challenge racial stereotypes.
Lloyd's legacy is celebrated today, and he is recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of the Negro Leagues. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, and his story is a testament to the resilience and determination of African Americans in the face of adversity.
Some of the key takeaways from the book are:
The role of African Americans in the development of Atlantic City: The book highlights the important contributions of African Americans to the growth and development of Atlantic City. African American entrepreneurs, such as Sarah Spencer Washington and Robert B. White, played a crucial role in creating and sustaining the city's black community.
The struggle for civil rights: The book describes the long and difficult struggle of African Americans for civil rights in Atlantic City. It details the efforts of local activists, such as the Reverend Collins and the Reverend Preston, to fight against segregation and discrimination in the city.
The impact of segregation: The book explains how segregation affected the lives of African Americans in Atlantic City. It shows how segregation limited the opportunities available to African Americans, and how it created a separate and unequal society in the city.
The resilience of the black community: Despite the challenges they faced, the book shows how the black community in Atlantic City remained resilient and determined. It highlights the strength and perseverance of African American families, churches, and businesses in the face of adversity.
The legacy of the Northside: The book highlights the legacy of the Northside, the black community that developed in Atlantic City. It shows how the Northside was a vibrant and thriving community, and how it had a lasting impact on the history and culture of Atlantic City.
Overall, "The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City" is a powerful and important account of the role of African Americans in the history of Atlantic City. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of the black community, and a reminder of the ongoing struggle for civil rights and social justice.
here are a few interesting facts from "The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City":
Atlantic City was initially developed as a health resort for wealthy white visitors, but it was the black community that made it a popular vacation destination. African American entrepreneurs such as Sarah Spencer Washington and Robert B. White developed their own hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs, which attracted black tourists from all over the country.
One of the most significant events in the struggle for civil rights in Atlantic City was the fight against segregated beaches. In 1964, local activists staged a series of protests and "wade-ins" on the beach to demand that it be opened to everyone, regardless of race.
The Northside, the black community that developed in Atlantic City, was a hub of African American culture and entertainment. It was home to many famous jazz musicians, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong, who performed in local nightclubs and venues.
The book details how the political machine of Atlantic City, led by Enoch "Nucky" Johnson, exploited and manipulated the black community for their own gain. Johnson used his power to control the economy and political landscape of the city, but his reign came to an end after he was arrested and convicted of corruption.
The book also highlights the important role of women in the black community in Atlantic City. Women like Sara Spencer Washington and Fannie Lou Hamer were entrepreneurs and activists who fought for civil rights and economic opportunity for their community.
The book also mentions the story of a remarkable baseball player named John Henry Lloyd, who was born in Florida in 1884 and grew up in Atlantic City.
Lloyd was considered one of the greatest baseball players of his time and played in the Negro Leagues from 1906 to 1932. He was known for his exceptional defense and his ability to hit for both average and power.
In the book, Nelson Johnson writes about how Lloyd was a local hero in Atlantic City and how his achievements helped to inspire and uplift the black community. Despite facing discrimination and limited opportunities due to segregation, Lloyd's talent and success on the baseball field helped to break down barriers and challenge racial stereotypes.
Lloyd's legacy is celebrated today, and he is recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of the Negro Leagues. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, and his story is a testament to the resilience and determination of African Americans in the face of adversity.
February 11, 2014
What a great follow-up to Boardwalk Empire. NOT the HBO series, but Johnson's book.
The history in Northside is fascinating far beyond just that of Atlantic City. It tells a great deal about the migration of African-Americans from the south to the north post Civil War and how the "freed men" (and women) were treated in the north. Also describes the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on African American, both positive and in some cases, negative.
The history in Northside is fascinating far beyond just that of Atlantic City. It tells a great deal about the migration of African-Americans from the south to the north post Civil War and how the "freed men" (and women) were treated in the north. Also describes the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on African American, both positive and in some cases, negative.
March 7, 2011
Interesting and revealing history of Atlantic City and its inhabitants.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews