Claude Johnson
Founder & President
Black Fives, Inc.

Claude Johnson, the founder and president of Black Fives, Inc., created the company starting with nothing but his library card. “I’ve always liked history, but history is limited unless we make it meaningful for today,” Johnson says.

The vintage sports licensing company is dedicated to researching, preserving, promoting, and teaching about the history of African American basketball teams that played from the early 1900s through the integration of the National Basketball Association in 1950, a period known as the Black Fives Era.

The Black Fives brand consists of an authentic, historically accurate collection of intellectual property that includes trademarked and copyrighted team names, logos, uniform designs, player name and likeness usage rights, photograph usage rights, and related copyrighted materials. Black Fives, Inc. and its licensed merchandise, including retro jerseys, accessories, and related items, have been featured in such major media outlets as MTV, BET, ESPN, NBC, Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, and Source Magazine, as well as in numerous music videos and live band appearances. The merchandise is popular with a variety of celebrities, musicians, and pro athletes including Sean Combs, Ludacris, The Roots, Andre Benjamin, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, and Tracy McGrady. (See more great exposure and PR here and here.)

Since forming the company in 2001, Johnson’s extensive scholarly research and tireless passion for the subject has earned him recognition and praise as a foremost authority in this area. He currently is developing several exciting strategic initiatives including a series of books, a traveling museum exhibit, and grass roots events.

Prior to Black Fives, Johnson gained extensive work experience with management and executive positions in engineering, apparel merchandising, licensing, marketing, and sales, during a 20-year career in corporate America.

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