Before the NBA, Black Athletes Shined in the Black Fives Era

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 17

In the era of segregation, before Black and white athletes played on the same basketball teams, Black athletes took the spot and made it into a cultural sensation. Although the invention of basketball evolved, teams were initially called “fives” to reference the starting five players on the court and were racially segregated.

From 1904, when basketball caught the eye of African American players, Black teams were often called “colored quints,” “Negro cagers,” or “black fives.” The game of basketball remained segregated until the 1950s. The period between 1904 and the racial integration of the National Basketball League and the National Basketball Association, was known as the Black Fives Era. During this time, dozens of all-African-American teams were able to flourish and blossom into dynamic franchises.

Teams sponsored by churches, “Colored” YMCA businesses, athletic and social clubs, and newspapers had very few places to play. Due to segregation, athletic clubs and gymnasiums were whites-only. When the phonograph, an instrument for reproducing sounds, arose in the 1900s, Black music like jazz, blues, and ragtime became outrageously popular. This paved the way for more dance halls and ballrooms, which were welcoming to Black people. This gave the Black Fives a place to play and belong. It also fused music and basketball. The music would feature the top Black musicians, and after games, dancing took place. These venues were organized by African American sports promoters.

The majority of these events took place in urban industrial centers like Pittsburgh, Chicago, Washington, and New York. African American culture influenced many migrants to meet others and assimilate. Migrants came from Central America, South America, Africa, and the Caribbean. During the Black Fives Era, the basketball games went above and beyond the dry competitions of the time became lively, and had significant social events. Basketball and music were essential to African Americans because they brought so many opportunities and community leaders. Many advertisements in the Black Fives Era used the phrase “Basketball and Dance” in their headlines because of the strong connection between basketball and music.

The Black Fives Era was an important period of basketball history highlighting the resilience of African American athletes playing through segregation.

[Source: The Black Fives Foundation]