Making of the Board Game
From the outset of this larger project, we were committed at the outset to using new technologies to recover, revisit, and extend Du Bois' work. But after a year of digitizing historical records, we agreed that something that involved people sitting around a table together, with no computer, would help create some balance for our project. The board game evolved over several years, with the game board, rules, and name changing as new students jumped into the project.
ROUND ONE
Too Literal
The initial game board was very literal, integrating Du Bois' map into the 1895 Bromley. Erin Kinnevy, a high school student from NJ in 2007 (now an engineer), spent hours eliminating some details and highlighting others.
This version of the game board privileged historical documents, but it was ultimately impractical—the spaces in the streets were too small for game pieces—and it was too busy.
ROUND TWO
Too Expensive
The second iteration of the board game focused on enhancing engagement and accessibility by incorporating creative elements like acting and drawing, collaborating with students for design input, and refining production methods to create an affordable, visually appealing, and classroom-friendly experience that could accommodate more players.
During the summer of 2008, Haverford College student Duncan Cooper injected some of his quirkiness and new ideas, insisting on a much simpler game board that was more fun. He had the brilliant idea to get the players acting and drawing in addition to answering factual questions. The following summer, Haverford College interns Julia Dunbar and Katy Schaeffer ran with Duncan's ideas and produced a gorgeous and professional-looking game. Katy created fun but realistic images of Seventh Ward institutions. Together, Julia and Katy worked with students from West Philadelphia High School to decide on colors (blue for the game board) and a name (The Seventh Ward Struggle or Surviving the Seventh Ward).
We worked with a professional printer to produce a boxed game with a folding game board. The game was a hit when we tested it with several high school classes, but because only 6–10 players could play at a time, the teachers leading 25–30 person classes needed more than one copy. The cost of reproducing that version was prohibitive, so we brainstormed ways to simplify production. Professional consultant Byron Woodson suggested rolling up the game board and storing it in a tube, allowing us to significantly reduce the cost of reproduction. We are still using that approach.
ROUND THREE
Just Right
Perspectives
Jonah Taylor
Talented graphic artist and Hampshire College student (now clinical social worker), Jonah Taylor, suggested adding more drama to the game. Even though we thought the game was essentially done already, he won us over with his great ideas and set about work on a new version. He commissioned paintings of our eight characters, arguing that paintings could show more emotion than the dull historical photographs we had.
Perspectives
Katie Emmons
Katie produced nine paintings (the eight characters plus Du Bois) and drove from southern Maryland to Philadelphia to deliver the paintings. Jonah also redesigned the board game to add perspective to the buildings and suggested calling it simply “THE WARD.” This eventually led us to rename the entire project “THE WARD."
Game Characters
The eight characters were Black people who actually lived in or near the Seventh Ward around the turn of the 20th century. They are grouped into one of the four social classes Du Bois identified in his color-coded parcel map.
Graduate of Oberlin College, principal of the Institute for Colored Youth. Continuously fought for a more complete education for her students.
Was born into slavery in Maryland; her aunt bought her freedom when she was 12. Married to the Bishop of the A.M.E. Church, Levi Coppin.
First black graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Founded Frederick Douglass Hospital in 1895 to create training opportunities for black nurses.
From a highly educated family. His brother Benjamin was a lawyer. Uncle of educator and civil rights leader Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander.
Lived at 1730 Pine St. with husband James in an apartment above two larger white families.
Both she and her husband were well‐educated. She was a chemistry professor.
Lived at 250 South Darien St., rented a room from Nettie Cook.
Employed. Common‐law marriage with Katie, a white woman who was a maid to James Hawkins, 633 Delancey St.
Maid to Mrs. Higgenbotham, a white woman.
Reportedly, the two women had a good relationship.
Lived with his parents, five siblings, and four boarders at 1810 Addison St.
He was a barber—often a short term occupation for young black men, could earn $8‐10/week.
During the Republican Parade on Lombard St., Mr. Moore began arguing with another Black man on the trolley.
Moore was pulled off the car to fight and Moore tried to run away. Moore killed the other man with a knife, then turned himself in for the murder.
Accused of killing and dismembering her lover.
During her trial, she displayed proper womanly etiquette to try to show that she was incapable of murder, but she was ultimately convicted.
Game Rules
This game seeks to give players a sense of what life was like for Black residents of the Seventh Ward. Du Bois highlighted differences in social class among Blacks, so players in this game each have their own mission to accomplish based on their social class status. Du Bois emphasized the role of racial discrimination in limiting opportunities for all blacks, something we have also incorporated into the game.
Each team begins the game with four Mission Cards specific to their character. Each card identifies a destination on the game board. Players complete their missions by moving to the location and then reading the description on the mission card out loud. The game ends when the first team completes all four of their missions. The goal of the game is to be the player with the most points by the end of the game.
Fact, Act, and Draw cards are worth one point each. If a player correctly answers a card, that player’s team keeps the card to be counted at the end. If they answer incorrectly, the card is placed on the bottom of its deck. Mission cards are worth two points. Players only receive points for completed missions. The Pinch or Profit cards are the “game changers”; players are sent to certain locations on the game board and then given instructions specific to their social class.
Playing the Game
We’ve played the game in high school and college classes where the competition heats up quickly. We’ve also hosted game nights at Du Bois College House, the Ethical Society of Philadelphia, and in Houston Hall. We’ve also hosted game nights at Du Bois College House, the Ethical Society of Philadelphia, and in Houston Hall.
