At the March 2014 unveiling of the Earl Lloyd statue at West Virginia State University in Charleston, West Virginia.
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A pair of vintage hand constructed leather and canvas basketball shoes, circa 1910s, on display in the first-ever Black Fives museum exhibition, at the New York Historical Society from March 14 to July 20, 2014.
This souvenir medallion is the earliest known in-arena promotional fan giveaway in basketball, on display with the Black Fives exhibition at the New York Historical Society.
A short film by the New York Historical Society introducing the first-ever comprehensive museum exhibition on the Black Fives Era of basketball (1904–1950).
Michael Bellamy hosts BK Live on Brooklyn Independent Media with guest Claude Johnson of the Black Fives Foundation
Barclays Center TV spoke with Claude Johnson about the vintage black basketball murals that are up around the Barclays Center concourse and their significance.
ESPN Radio New York (98.7 FM) host Bill Daughtry interviews Claude Johnson about the upcoming Black Fives Exhibition at the New York Historical Society.
A year ago today the Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets staged a special celebration that became the first annual “Black Fives Day” and this year we celebrate that date again!
A new exhibition opening March 14 at the New-York Historical Society celebrates a forgotten era in sports history. ‘The Black Fives’ explores the history of pioneering African American basketball teams from the early 1900s through 1950.
Michael C. King, the son of William “Dolly” King, describes some family artifacts and the stories surrounding them.
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Black Fives
We inspire excellence in youth and communities by preserving, teaching, and honoring the pre-NBA history of African Americans in basketball.
For years, we have been building something truly remarkable.![]()
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Something deeper than what’s visible on the surface.![]()
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This piece, created by the Gee’s Bend Quilters Collective from remnants of our Black Fives throwback jerseys, carries that idea.![]()
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On the front, you see something beautiful.![]()
On the back, you see the work.![]()
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Tens of thousands of stitches.![]()
Each one holding the whole together.![]()
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Like the earlier African American basketball pioneers whose names were forgotten, but whose work helped shape the game.![]()
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Like the countless people, often unseen, who did and are doing the work that holds our country together.![]()
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The surface only exists because of what’s behind it.![]()
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And it’s only as strong as the weakest stitch.![]()
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Do we really want to remove certain stitches?![]()
Are we OK with pieces falling apart?![]()
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Do we value the work we don’t see?![]()
Do we recognize it?![]()
Do we protect it?![]()
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That’s the real story.![]()
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A cultural archive. A sports heritage platform.![]()
Build with us.![]()
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Make History Now.![]()
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#culturalheritage ![]()
#intellectualproperty ![]()
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#sportsbusiness ![]()
#blackhistory
For years, we have been building something truly remarkable.![]()
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A deep archive of early African American basketball.![]()
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The stories, the images, the history that shaped the game.![]()
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But this is more than an archive.![]()
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It’s a cultural IP and sports heritage platform.![]()
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Infrastructure of history, identity, and assets ready to build with.![]()
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For partners, institutions, and brands who want real cultural authenticity, not just performative optics.![]()
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Build with us.![]()
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blackfives.org/build![]()
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#blackhistory #culturalheritage #brandpartnerships #archives #intellectualproperty