Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the term “Black Fives”?

The term “Black Fives” refers to the African American basketball teams that played prior to the racial integration of professional leagues such as the National Basketball League, the Basketball Association of America, and the National Basketball Association.

Black Fives is a also a concept that is all about taking the history of African American basketball pioneers and fast-forwarding to modern times to seek ways of engaging, teaching, enlightening, and inspiring people today.

Finally, Black Fives is a “brand” that is a registered trademark of Black Fives, Inc.

What is the “Black Fives Era”?

The Black Fives Era is the period of time between 1904, when the first all-black basketball teams began to play, and 1950, when the N.B.A. introduced its first African American players.

Is Black Fives only for black people?

Black Fives is pure culture.  People love pure culture.  So, is Italian Renaissance art only for Italian Americans?  Is Native American art only for Native Americans?  Of course not.  Neither is Black Fives only for African Americans.

What is the brand’s slogan?

Our slogan is “Make History Now!”

For what age group is Black Fives most appropriate?

There’s no age limit or target. We did an online survey once and the youngest respondent was 16 years old and the oldest was 88 years old.

Is this mostly for guys or is there information and material that applies to females as well?

There is no gender difference in terms of what’s valuable about Black Fives.  Also, there is a large amount of information about African American women’s basketball teams included in this site.  Please look around, and have fun!

I can’t find something.  What should I do?

Just use the convenient “Search” box by typing search terms associated with the item or information you’d like to find. A great deal if information is also available on The Black Fives Blog.

Were there more Black Fives Era basketball teams and players than just those that you’ve presented on this site?

Yes.  There were dozens of teams and hundreds of players.  The teams and players listed here are just the ones we are featuring at this time.  To stay tuned for updates, please join the BlackFives.com email list by providing your name and email address in the “Join Our List” box at the upper right corner of this page.

Do you ever give presentations at schools, colleges, or other locations?

Yes.  For more information please contact Claude Johnson.

Can you help me if I am writing an essay about the Black Fives Era?

We can’t help you write your essay, but we can recommend The Black Fives Blog as a good place to look for topic ideas.

Are any of the players from the Black Fives Era still alive?

Very few of the players from that time are still with us.  However, their descendants are still here and many of them are part of a collective effort we are helping to organize, to preserve and revive the history of their ancestors.  For more information about this initiative, please see our Descendants page.

What should I do if I believe that one of my relatives played on a Black Fives Era team?

We’d be interested in speaking with you, and would be glad to help you find out more. But first, speak with your relative and try to find out what years he or she played, in which city or cities, and for which team(s). Once you’ve collected a bit of background information, then feel free to contact us any time.