The Black Fives

By: Claude Johnson

Narrated by: Claude Johnson

A groundbreaking, timely history of the largely unknown early days of Black basketball, bringing to life the trailblazing players, teams, and impresarios who made the game.

From the introduction of the game of basketball to Black communities on a wide scale in 1904 to the racial integration of the NBA in 1950, dozens of African American teams were founded and flourished. This period, known as the Black Fives Era (teams at the time were often called “fives”), was a time of pioneering players and managers. They battled discrimination and marginalization and created culturally rich, socially meaningful events. But despite headline-making rivalries between big-city clubs, the savvy moves of innovative businessmen, and the undeniable talent of star players, this period is almost entirely unknown to basketball fans.

Claude Johnson has made it his mission to change that. An advocate fiercely committed to our history, for more than two decades Johnson has conducted interviews, mined archives, collected artifacts, and helped to preserve this historically important African American experience that otherwise would have been lost. The Black Fives is the result of his work, a landmark narrative history that braids together the stories of these forgotten pioneers and rewrites our understanding of the story of basketball.

©2022 Claude Johnson (P)2022 Recorded Books

An incredible insight into early 20th century black life

Originally I thought this was going to be a book on basketball, but it was so much more. It gave me insight into early 20th century black life that revolves around Basketball. It is so obvious that Mr Johnson put an incredible amount of time and research into this book concerning an era that is so under researched. . An incredible education for me. Bravo

Blacktastic

Well-written history (our-story) of Black basketball and it's pioneers of the sport in a once segregated sport

The Black Fives incredible story

This story from start to finish from the author, was well researched and documented from start to finish. I felt like it brought me through a journey of basketball that was untold. I think everyone who gets a chance, should read this book. History is important to be taught and learned, you won’t be disappointed.

A surprising page-turner

I was surprised to discover that a book about basketball history is a real page-turner. I heard the author describe this book as a basketball train traveling through history, and this is apt. I learned as much about the origins of basketball as I did about countless other events and situations in American history – the draft riots in New York City, strikebreakers in Pittsburgh; where basketball for money originated, nexus with the great migration, the list goes on. It’s a scholarly work but written in a way that’s digestible by non-scholarly readers. It's all fascinating reading. If you listen to the book, you’ll find it wonderfully narrated by the author.