Foy McCarty Playing Blackjack from the collection of Black Artists Archive

Foy McCarty at the blackjack table at Black Sam's, a local gambling house in Detroit

Foy McCarty Playing Blackjack

polaroid

Inv: 2026.018

This photograph captures Foy McCarty in his element—calm, composed, and intensely focused—qualities that defined his reputation as a remarkably successful gambler. A mathematical savant from a young age, McCarty began riding freight trains around the Midwest at just twelve years old, traveling as far as Tennessee to gamble. Gifted with an exceptional ability to count cards, predict dice outcomes, and calculate probabilities entirely in his head, he used his winnings to help support his parents, Rachel and Edward McCarty, when wages from his work (child labor) in Kentucky’s coal mines proved insufficient. His talent for games of chance—particularly blackjack, craps, and horse racing—not only sustained his family but also shaped his path, ultimately drawing him north to Detroit.

In this photograph, Foy McCarty is shown at a card table with the easy confidence of a seasoned player. While he’s pictured here playing blackjack, McCarty wasn’t just a participant—he was also a regular dealer and “stick man” on the craps tables at Black Sam’s, a well-known local gambling spot in Detroit. His presence behind the table and at the games reflected both his skill and his deep engagement with the city’s vibrant social and gaming culture.