[Ads-l] Early Citations to the "Dozens"

[Shapiro, Fred]

The ritualized insult game now known as "the dozens" is highly important in Black culture.  Elijah Wald has written a book titled The Dozens in which he regards the dozens as the ancestor of rap music.  Below are the earliest citations I have found.

"A lot of colored kids who got in trouble while playing 'dozen' were up in the city court today.  They were reprimanded and discharged by the mayor."
Vicksburg Evening Post, March 8, 1910, page 1

"A couple of negro boys were arrested yesterday afternoon by Office Skeens and carried before Sergeant Pearce for 'scrapping' ... The boys got into their trouble through the passing of insults to one another, and one said that the other 'slipped him one in the dozens.'"
Greensboro Daily News, December 6, 1911, page 5

"For the second time within a few months a defendant in City Court has accused the prosecuting witness of 'playing dozen.'  This game is in vogue among the colored people and consists of one talking disrespectfully of the dead parents of the other party to the conversation."
Wilmington Evening Journal, March 20, 1912, page 2

"Alexander Groomes, colored, was fined $10 and costs by Judge Cochran in City Court this morning on a charge of disorderly conduct preferred by Mabel Blackiston, also colored.  It appeared that Alexander had played "dozen" with her mother who was dead."
Wilmington Evening Journal, June 3, 1912, page 3

"Florence Black, colored, when called to testify in City Court today, against John Smith, colored, who was charged with disorderly conduct, said: 'While in the Douglass House he cursed me after stepping on my foot. ... Charles Shokley said Smith, who is known as 'Sugar Babe,' excused himself when he bumped into the woman, but she started to curse him and 'play dozen.'  'You know what that is,' Shokley said.  Judge Cochran said he didn't.  Whereupon it was explained to him as the abusing of one's mother by another."
Wilmington Evening Journal, Oct. 19, 1912, page 1

"George Bell, colored ... struck Lizzie with his cane.  As a result he was mulcted in the sum of $10 and costs by Judge Churchman this morning.  According to George, Lizzie, tired of arguing over the dogs, started to play 'dozen' with his mother and he struck her once.  Lizzie had witnesses to prove that two blows were struck and the fine was imposed."
Wilmington Evening Journal, November 13, 1912, page 1

Fred Shapiro





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