Overview

Life as a BlackMan is an educational board game where players start as 18-year-old African Americans entering society. Players traverse districts including Hollywood, the University, Military, Neighborhood, Corporate America, and Prison, trying to be the first to reach FREEDOM. The game explores themes of opportunity, systemic challenges, and decision-making.

Components

• 1 Game board (with six districts and Downtown)
• 1 Four-sided die
• 1 Six-sided die
• 9 Game pawns
• 12 Decks of Action Cards: Hollywood, University, Military, Neighborhood, Corporate America, Church, Prison, Life, Career, Racism, Crime, Police
• BlackMan money
• Career cards, Marriage cards, Baby cards, Transportation cards, Lawyer cards, Debt cards

Setup

1. Place the game board centrally.
2. Each player rolls a 6-sided die to determine their character type:
   • 1-2: Creative
   • 3-4: Intellectual
   • 5-6: Athletic
3. Roll again to determine starting district:
   • 1-2: Neighborhood
   • 3: Military
   • 4-5: University
   • 6: Hollywood
4. Place pawns in assigned starting districts.

Turn Structure

On your turn:

1. Roll the 4-sided die to determine movement.
2. Move your pawn forward (upward) within your district.
3. Draw and resolve any Action Cards landed on.
4. Pay rent and other expenses at each PAYDAY.

Actions

Movement Rules

• Players move vertically within districts.
• Horizontal movement occurs only in Downtown.
• Players may never move backwards unless instructed by an Action Card.
• Transportation affects movement speed in Downtown.

Transportation

| Vehicle | Cost | Downtown Speed | |———|——|—————| | No Car (start) | Free | 1/4 die roll | | Bucket | $2,000 | 1/2 die roll | | Used Mid-Size | $5,000 | Full die roll | | New Sub-Compact | $8,000 | Full die roll | | New SUV | $18,000 | 2x die roll |

If no movement possible for 4 consecutive rolls (due to No Car), move the full die value.

Districts

Hollywood: Rent $2,000/payday. Entertainment industry opportunities.

University: No rent. Educational advancement.

Military: No rent. Military career path.

Neighborhood: Rent $500/payday. Community-based experiences.

Corporate America: Rent $1,300/payday. Business career opportunities.

Downtown: Rent $1,000/payday. Connects all districts.

Church: Can be visited at any time. Provides assistance with debt, probation reduction, and career opportunities. Must complete one full rotation before leaving.

Prison: Entered through court verdicts. Players lose careers upon sentencing. Outcomes determined by rolling the 4-sided die.

Special Cards

Baby Cards: $1,000 per child due every payday.

Marriage Cards: Spouse enters with “Some College” status and can earn a separate salary.

Debt Cards: Players with negative income receive a Debt Card. Have 5 rolls to recover before being moved to Neighborhood.

Lawyer Cards: Available for legal situations. | Lawyer | Cost | Sentence Reduction | |——–|——|——————–| | Public Defender | Free | None | | Small Firm | $2,500 | -2 rolls | | Large Firm | $5,000 | -5 rolls | | Dream Team | $10,000 | -10 rolls |

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The first player to roll the exact number of spaces needed to land on the FREEDOM space wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Career advancement depends on education level and character type.
• Players can face Racism, Crime, and Police action cards that create setbacks.
• Church provides a safe haven and assistance mechanism.
• Prison sentences vary based on offense number and court type.
• Game duration is intentionally variable (15-45 min) reflecting life’s unpredictability.

Player Reference

Character Types: Creative, Intellectual, Athletic (assigned by die roll)

District Rents: | District | Rent | |———-|——| | Hollywood | $2,000 | | University | Free | | Military | Free | | Neighborhood | $500 | | Corporate America | $1,300 | | Downtown | $1,000 |

Win Condition: Exact roll to reach FREEDOM