Harlem Shuffle

Two years later, in 1961, Carney is considering paying $500 to join the Dumas Club. Compared to what he pays to Montague and a crooked detective for business protection, it is not much. Still, Carney disdains the Dumas. According to his friend, lawyer Terrance Pierce, who he met at an association meeting for Harlem small businesses, the club is now accepting darker-skinned members. Like Carney, Pierce has humble origins, the first of his family to go to college. He represents civil rights cases for the NAACP and has been a Dumas member for two years. Carney feels a kinship with the man, who—like himself—was directed to “speak right” in his youth in order to advance. 

Although Carney has lunch with Pierce weekly, he is surprised when his friend nominates him for Dumas membership. Despite Carney’s reluctance, Pierce persuades him to come to a club mixer. Arriving in a new suit, Carney feels he is here to disturb the status quo. He recognizes many prominent Black New Yorkers inside, including the man whose business renovated the furniture shop. Carney recalls the time one of his shadier customers tried to pawn a Dumas pinky ring, which he refused as “too traceable.” Leland greets Carney with genuine warmth, and Carney spends an hour chatting and feeling like “the only representative from ‘round Crooked Way.”

Wilfred Duke addresses the club and its prospective members. He is chartering a new Black-owned bank to compete with Liberty National, and has come under scrutiny from the Harlem Gazette as an alleged conman. Duke reminds those gathered of their purpose to “make a better Harlem.” Afterwards, Duke introduces himself to Carney, who tells him about his business’s recent expansion and hiring a secretary. While the club is accepting members of Carney’s complexion, Duke implies that a bribe of $500 will help his chances. Carney reflects that everyone—crooked or straight—has their “hand out for the envelope.” Knowing that membership could benefit and protect his business, and thinking of his family, Carney resolves to swallow his pride and apply.

Elizabeth is surprised Carney wants to try to become a Dumas member. Having known such men her whole life, Elizabeth believes they are all “shitheels.” She is tenser nowadays—her job at the travel agency has become more dangerous, as groups like the Klan target formerly safe routes of travel amid nationwide racial unrest. Pierce has never heard of someone bribing Dumas leadership, but he does not tell Carney not to do it. Carney dips into his savings account for his dream apartment, despite recent expenses. He feels their current apartment shrinks along with the fund. Carney is grateful his fencing side is doing well, feeling he has become more crooked and more straight simultaneously.

Carney drops off his envelope of $500 to Duke’s office, handing it to his secretary. A week later, he receives a notice that his Dumas membership has been denied. Furious, Carney returns to Duke’s office to confront him. He disregards the man’s excuses, insisting that the bribe should have been a guarantee. Carney demands his money back, and Duke threatens to call the police on him. Walking back, Carney thinks of how everyone in the city is pitching bad products to people who can’t afford them. Thinking that his father (Big Mike) would have burned Duke’s house down, Carney resolves to bide his time and wait for an appropriate revenge plan.