Scammer's Yard (Paperback)

Jovan Scott Lewis

26 ratings by Goodreads

Language: English

Published by University of Minnesota Press, Minnesota, 2020

1517909988 / 9781517909987

  • Softcover
  • New
See all details

Seller: AussieBookSeller, Truganina, VIC, AustraliaAussieBookSeller

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since June 22, 2007

Softcover

Condition: New

£ 47.29

£ 28.00 shipping 
Ships from Australia to U.S.A.

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket
Free 30-day returns

Item description from seller

Paperback. Tells the story of Jamaican "scammers" who use crime to gain autonomy, opportunity, and repair There is romance in stealing from the rich to give to the poor, but how does that change when those perceived rich are elderly white North Americans and the poor are young Black Jamaicans? In this innovative ethnography, Jovan Scott Lewis tells the story of Omar, Junior, and Dwayne. Young and poor, they strive to make a living in Montego Bay, where call centers and tourism are the two main industries in the struggling economy. Their experience of grinding poverty and drastically limited opportunity leads them to conclude that scamming is the best means of gaining wealth and advancement. Otherwise, they are doomed to live in "sufferation"-an inescapable poverty that breeds misery, frustration, and vexation.In the Jamaican lottery scam run by these men, targets are told they have qualified for a large loan or award if they pay taxes or transfer fees. When the fees are paid, the award never arrives, netting the scammers tens of thousands of U.S. dollars. Through interviews, historical sources, song lyrics, and court testimonies, Lewis examines how these scammers justify their deceit, discovering an ethical narrative that reformulates ideas of crime and transgression and their relationship to race, justice, and debt.Scammer's Yard describes how these young men, seeking to overcome inequality and achieve autonomy, come to view crime as a form of liberation. Their logic raises unsettling questions about a world economy that relegates postcolonial populations to deprivation even while expecting them to follow the rules of capitalism that exacerbate their dispossession. In this groundbreaking account, Lewis asks whether true reparation for the legacy of colonialism is to be found only through radical-even criminal-means. "Tells the story of Jamaican "scammers" who use crime to gain autonomy, opportunity, and repair"-- Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.…

Seller Inventory # 9781517909987

Title
Scammer's Yard (Paperback)
Author
Jovan Scott Lewis
Publisher
University of Minnesota Press, Minnesota
Publication year
2020
Condition
new
Binding
Paperback
Language
English
ISBN 10
1517909988
ISBN 13
9781517909987

AussieBookSeller

Truganina, VIC, Australia

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since June 22, 2007

Shipping rates from Australia to U.S.A.

Item25 to 45 business days8 to 14 business days
First item£ 28.00£ 33.30
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment methods

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay

Seller's business information

The Nile Group Pty Ltd

42 Apex Drive
Truganina, VIC Australia 3029