Welcome


Welcome to BlackFives.org!

This site is all about the Black Fives. They were dozens of African American basketball teams that played before the racial integration of the National Basketball Association, from 1904 through 1950, a period known as the Black Fives Era. All-black squads were often known as colored quints, Negro cagers, or black fives. “Fives” referred to the five starting players in a basketball lineup.

But it’s about more than just this history. As a public charity with 501-c-3 tax exemption supported by generous contributions from individuals just like you, we bring the stories of the pioneers of the Black Fives Era back to life, to engage people of all ages in ways that are relevant today and to honor those forebears.

Relevance today also means using this history to change history; to address issues directly by starting conversations about challenging topics through the lens of sports, and in particular, Black basketball history. Our slogan is “Make History Now.”

Through research, preservation, promotion, education, commemoration, and advocacy, we share the stories and experiences of the pioneers and teams that paved the way for today’s game.

These pioneers were our on-court ancestors; they make up our basketball family tree.

The rules of basketball are different today, and so is society, but the faces haven’t changed. African American basketball history is basketball history, and it’s American history.

Find out more! Look around!

A great place to start is with our new Black Fives Online Museum presented by PUMA.

Or review hundreds of articles in our blog. Have some fun with the factoids in the trivia section. Or with the team profiles. You can also go right to the players‘ section for brief biographies about some of the stars.

Don’t forget the off-court contributions of coaches, business people, clergy, journalists, and community leaders!

If you like what you see, please consider leaving a donation before you go.

It’s just as helpful to us if you share this with a few friends or to your social feed. And please join our email list if you have not already.

Thank you very much for your interest in BlackFives.org!

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