New on-court mural at Howard Bennett Playground in Harlem honors the legendary New York Rens.
Our New On-Court Mural In Harlem Honors The Legendary New York Rens
Celebrating the birthday of 2X World Pro Basketball Champion and Basketball Hall of Fame member John “Boy Wonder” Isaacs.
How does a ticket to a 1941 basketball doubleheader link Ohio, the tire industry, burgers, the Star of David, Harlem, FDR, Nike, the UN, and Norman Rockwell?
This historic 1941 basketball ticket that celebrates FDR’s birthday and raises funds to prevent Infantile Paralysis represents a major milestone in the sport.
WATCH: The dedication of John “Boy Wonder” Isaacs Way, a portion of Hoe Avenue in the Bronx renamed after the basketball pioneer and community legend.
A great inside look at the New York City launch event for the Black Fives Collection by premium sports lifestyle brand ’47.
ESPN Radio New York 98.7 FM host Bill Daughtry interviews historians Kevin McGruder and Claude Johnson about the recent demolition of Harlem’s historic Renaissance Ballroom.
Efforts to save the Harlem’s historic Renaissance Ballroom, a cultural shrine, have failed. It was demolished by its new owners. Here is how this happened.
This new ABC News feature about the New York Rens all-black pro barnstorming basketball team and its old home court in Harlem is an important breakthrough.
For the NBA All Star Weekend, WPIX 11 produced ‘One-on-One: A Historic Look at the Journey of African American Basketball in NYC,’ which includes a look at Black Fives Era achievers who paved the way for today’s superstars.
4,300
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