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Part 1, Chapter 9
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Harlem Shuffle, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Crime, Class, and Social Mobility
Identity and Duality
Community, Change, and Loyalty
Systemic Racism, Injustice, and Power
Betrayal, Vengeance, and Integrity
Summary
Analysis
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.
Carney has clearly experienced significant social advancement in the last two years. He is eligible for Dumas membership, networking with other Harlem businessmen, and is successful enough to afford to pay protection to both Montague and the police. Montague’s involvement suggests that Carney still participates in criminal activity in some fashion. Pierce’s profession as a civil rights lawyer and Carney’s mention of the pressure to conform to White ideals in order to succeed indicate that racial inequality will be a more central theme going forward.
Themes
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.”
Pierce’s interest in helping Carney advance even more within Harlem’s community indicates that he is a good friend. Though doubtful that the Dumas Club will actually accept someone like him, Carney allows himself to hope that his hard work will finally lead to the social mobility he craves. Business is clearly going well based on the furniture store’s recent renovation, but the mention of Carney’s criminal acquaintances implies that some portion of his newfound wealth has been obtained illegally.
Themes
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.
Duke’s introduction here characterizes him as self-important and controversial. His call to “make a better Harlem” feels judgmental, implying there is something wrong or disreputable about the neighborhood in its current state. Duke’s insinuation that a bribe will secure Carney’s membership demonstrates the power of money in a capitalist society. Additionally, that Duke is open to bribery supports Carney’s notion that crime occurs in every level of the class hierarchy. In deciding to go through with the application, Carney invests in his family and also dares to hope that his goal of social mobility is possible.
Themes
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.
Elizabeth dismisses the Dumas members more easily than Carney, who hopes they can benefit his business despite their haughty pretensions. Intensifying racial unrest foreshadows potential conflicts, though Carney’s concerns are notably separate from such national issues. Carney’s willingness to dip into his savings shows how strongly he believes Dumas membership will benefit him, perhaps because his fencing side business has taught him the importance of networking. Though Carney retains his sense of duality from the previous section, he seems to be more content with his separate identities.
Themes
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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.
Duke’s betrayal is doubly infuriating, as he not only fails to uphold his end of the bargain, but also threatens to out Carney for illegal bribery, knowing he will not face consequences. Additionally, Duke hypocritically believes himself better than Carney when, in reality, he is also a criminal, but lacking Carney’s integrity. Afterwards, Carney seems to take his anger out on the city at large, despising its sales pitches and the daily capitalist grind. This time, Carney does not delay in turning to his father’s memory for guidance, his eagerness for revenge pointing to his strong internal sense of justice.
Themes
