Michael Bellamy hosts BK Live on Brooklyn Independent Media with guest Claude Johnson of the Black Fives Foundation
The Black Fives on BK Live at Brooklyn Independent Media (VIDEO)
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 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.
Here’s a new $1,000 scholarship contest! It’s by our friends at the New York Historical Society Museum & Library, to celebrate the upcoming first-ever exhibition of historical items from the Black Fives Era of basketball.
Introducing the official new Facebook fan page for the New York Renaissance a.k.a. Harlem Rens vintage all-black professional basketball team of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.
Various updates that are unconnected. Or are they?
In 1904, Edwin B. Henderson attended Harvard University’s Summer School of Arts and Sciences to learn the game of basketball. The rest is history.
I was reminded that the elder Lloyd was the first black player to wear Converse All Stars in an NBA game.
Recognition for Black Fives organization at the 3rd Annual Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation’s Black History Month Celebration in Falls Church, Virginia.
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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 ![]()
#archives ![]()
#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