Separate Accounts

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Set against the backdrop of midcentury Baltimore, this narrative explores the contrasting lives of two families: the respectable Murphys, owners of an influential Afro-American newspaper, and the ambitious Willie Adams, who rises from poverty to build a numbers-running empire. The story spans from the 1930s to the 1970s, highlighting the economic struggles and successes of black Baltimore. It emphasizes the pivotal roles of black women in this era, particularly Victorine Quille and Lillie Mae Jackson, while reflecting on the city's decline and potential for revival.