Member-only story
My Black History #10
5 Bingo Etiquette Rules Which Taught Me to Be a Decent Human Being
Bingo Hall rules are guard rails of life
“In a world full of spectators, be the player.”
― Michael Bassey Johnson, Song of a Nature Lover
I learned how to play games from the women in my life. Bingo rules have stayed with me long after I dabbed my last bingo card.
My mother and grandmother loved going to Bingo. Saturday and Sunday nights at the local Bingo Hall or church are a part of my childhood memories. My Grandmother and Mother played Bingo. They came to win, yet there was no cutthroat behavior by anyone at the Bingo hall.
Mom would take at least one of her children to carry her Bingo bag. The classic open-top canvas bingo bag contained dabbers, chips, lucky toys, napkins, and hand towels. The bingo bag carrier was the lucky child; you got a hot dog, chips, and a soda for a dollar. My two younger sisters loved going to Bingo the most.
Both of my sisters still love Bingo, as do their daughters. There are decency rules to Bingo.
1. Be polite. Don’t take a weekly player’s spot — location matters. If you get there early, knowing that old Mrs. Johnson played at the same table for twenty years, don’t sit there. If you…