It was an honor to be recognized at Rucker Park for my work with the Black Fives, along with Nate Archibald, Emmette Bryant, Dean Meminger, and Earl Monroe.
Honored At Rucker Park For My Work With Black Fives
BFF founder and executive director Claude Johnson gave a history presentation to kids at the Riverside Hawks Summer Camp in Harlem, joined by Nike basketball designers and veteran NBA guard Royal Ivey.
Black Fives Foundation founder and executive director Claude Johnson will be a panelist at this weekend’s annual Jackie Robinson Foundation Legacy Conference in New York City.
Claude Johnson will moderate a Washington Wizards discussion at the Verizon Center on Friday, with distinguished panelists David Aldridge, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, and Bob Dandridge.
EBONY Magazine’s wonderful article about the new Black Fives Era compilation of Brooklyn-related vintage African American basketball images at Barclays Center.
Edwin B. Henderson — a Black Fives Era pioneer who is known as the “Grandfather of Black Basketball” — has been elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame! He is “unsung” no more.
February 10, 2013 was a night to remember at the Barclays Center when the arena and the Brooklyn Nets honored Black Fives Era pioneers and their descendants.
Newsday published this cool article by Bob Herzog. The piece is insightful, thoughtful, and thorough.
As part of its grand opening, the Barclays Center has invited many of the known living descendants of early Brooklyn-based Black Fives Era pioneers.
If a community initiative passes final City Council approval, New York City will rename a Bronx street after former Harlem Rens star John Isaacs.
4,301
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.![]()
![]()
Something deeper than what’s visible on the surface.![]()
![]()
This piece, created by the Gee’s Bend Quilters Collective from remnants of our Black Fives throwback jerseys, carries that idea.![]()
![]()
On the front, you see something beautiful.![]()
On the back, you see the work.![]()
![]()
Tens of thousands of stitches.![]()
Each one holding the whole together.![]()
![]()
Like the earlier African American basketball pioneers whose names were forgotten, but whose work helped shape the game.![]()
![]()
Like the countless people, often unseen, who did and are doing the work that holds our country together.![]()
![]()
The surface only exists because of what’s behind it.![]()
![]()
And it’s only as strong as the weakest stitch.![]()
![]()
Do we really want to remove certain stitches?![]()
Are we OK with pieces falling apart?![]()
![]()
Do we value the work we don’t see?![]()
Do we recognize it?![]()
Do we protect it?![]()
![]()
That’s the real story.![]()
![]()
A cultural archive. A sports heritage platform.![]()
Build with us.![]()
![]()
Make History Now.![]()
![]()
#culturalheritage ![]()
#intellectualproperty ![]()
#archives ![]()
#sportsbusiness ![]()
#blackhistory
For years, we have been building something truly remarkable.![]()
![]()
A deep archive of early African American basketball.![]()
![]()
The stories, the images, the history that shaped the game.![]()
![]()
But this is more than an archive.![]()
![]()
It’s a cultural IP and sports heritage platform.![]()
![]()
Infrastructure of history, identity, and assets ready to build with.![]()
![]()
For partners, institutions, and brands who want real cultural authenticity, not just performative optics.![]()
![]()
Build with us.![]()
![]()
blackfives.org/build![]()
![]()
#blackhistory #culturalheritage #brandpartnerships #archives #intellectualproperty