The Harlem Renaissance Basketball Team
On March 28, 1939, The Harlem Renaissance Big Five Became The First All-Black, Professional Basketball Team To Win A World Championship Outside The Negro Basketball League.
Formed By Carribean-Born Basketball Manager And Former Player, Robert L. Douglass In 1922 (Five Years Before The Harlem Globtrotters), The Harlem Renaissance Big Five Became The First Black-Owned, Fully Professional Basketball Team, Comprised Of All Black Players.
Originally Called The Spartan Braves, The "Rens" Big Five Took Their Name Form Harlem’s Black- Owned, Renaissance Ballroom, Which Also Served As The Team’s Home Court.
During The 1920’s And 1930’s The "Rens" Became One Of The Most Succesful Teams In Sports History. They Plaayed And Beat, Black And White Teams, Including The Original Celtics.
Between 1932 And 1936, The "Rens" Won 473 Games And Lost Only 49. In 1934, They Won 88 Consecutive Ball Games.
The Harlem Renaissance Big Five Made History In 1939 When They Won The First Ever World Professional Basketball Tournament, Defeating The All-White, Oshkosh All-Stars Of The Racially Segregated, National Basketball League (A Forerunner To The NBA).
Some Of The Best Black Talent To Ever Play Basketball, Played For The Harlem Renaissance Team. These Basketball Hall Of Famers Include: Clarence "Fats" Jenkins, James "Pappy" Ricks, Frank "Strangler" Forbes And Leon Monde.
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Mist Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
