NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
In a soothing voice, the author narrates his own exhaustive dive into the origins of Black basketball, covering much of the first half of the twentieth century in detail. He goes back even further in tracing the roots of the pioneers who laid the foundation for the game in the 1800s. Occasionally, he lightly imitates someone but always with a tone of respect that denotes a quotation. This production is a definitive take on its subject. Will Anthony Madden is the central figure, but many other trailblazers are covered. Johnson, a historian’s historian, has preserved aspects of the past that might have fallen into obscurity. M.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
author of It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the W Justin Tinsley
"For a game that has meant so much to the world, Claude Johnson somehow presents a definitive account for a part of basketball's history that for so long was kept away from us. Claude is a superhero storyteller, and this book is a bona fide superpower."
Rob Ruck
"Claude Johnson has done almost as much to retrieve a missing era in our history––that of the Black Fives––as all the writers, filmmakers, and scholars working on the Negro Leagues combined were able to accomplish in telling Black baseball's story. The Black Fives is a deftly crafted, prodigiously researched, and groundbreaking book that shows not only why Black basketball mattered during the sport's segregated past, but what it matters today."
Sam Presti
"It was an honor to have Claude speak to the Thunder organization, introducing our players and staff to the incredible history and persistence of the Black Fives. As their foremost historian, Claude's passion and rigor for the story of these people and teams are inspiring. Listening and learning from Claude's research and expertise is an important step in continuing to appreciate the legacy of these pioneers of the sport that brings to many people together."
Kadir Nelson
"Claude Johnson has written a wonderful and thorough history of African Americans in basketball, providing exhaustive historical context and enlightening anecdotes. The Black Fives is outstanding and unprecedented. Bravo!"
From the Publisher
"Claude Johnson has written a wonderful and thorough history of African Americans in basketball, providing exhaustive historical context and enlightening anecdotes. The Black Fives is outstanding and unprecedented. Bravo!"—Kadir Nelson
"It was an honor to have Claude speak to the Thunder organization, introducing our players and staff to the incredible history and persistence of the Black Fives. As their foremost historian, Claude's passion and rigor for the story of these people and teams are inspiring. Listening and learning from Claude's research and expertise is an important step in continuing to appreciate the legacy of these pioneers of the sport that brings to many people together."—Sam Presti, executive vice president and general manager, Oklahoma City Thunder
"For a game that has meant so much to the world, Claude Johnson somehow presents a definitive account for a part of basketball's history that for so long was kept away from us. Claude is a superhero storyteller, and this book is a bona fide superpower."—Justin Tinsley, author of It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World that Made Him
"Claude Johnson has done almost as much to retrieve a missing era in our history––that of the Black Fives––as all the writers, filmmakers, and scholars working on the Negro Leagues combined were able to accomplish in telling Black baseball's story. The Black Fives is a deftly crafted, prodigiously researched, and groundbreaking book that shows not only why Black basketball mattered during the sport's segregated past, but what it matters today."—Rob Ruck, professor of sport history, University of Pittsburgh, and author of Tropic of Football: Th
Library Journal
★ 05/01/2022
Historian Johnson (founder of the Black Fives Foundation) presents a treasure trove of information that dramatically reshapes American basketball history, detailing the invaluable role of Black Americans in shaping the game and contemporary basketball culture. "Black Fives" was an early term for all-Black basketball teams, whose history Johnson has spent 20 years researching and preserving. His interviews and archival documents are beautifully framed around stories of innovators of the game, providing a comprehensive historical context of the painful discrimination faced by Black Americans in the early 1900s and often today. Johnson's narrative spans from the creation of the sport by James Naismith in 1891 through the beginnings of the National Basketball Association in 1946. VERDICT Highly readable, this work should not be missed. Essential and highly recommended for all libraries.—Steve Dixon
NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
In a soothing voice, the author narrates his own exhaustive dive into the origins of Black basketball, covering much of the first half of the twentieth century in detail. He goes back even further in tracing the roots of the pioneers who laid the foundation for the game in the 1800s. Occasionally, he lightly imitates someone but always with a tone of respect that denotes a quotation. This production is a definitive take on its subject. Will Anthony Madden is the central figure, but many other trailblazers are covered. Johnson, a historian’s historian, has preserved aspects of the past that might have fallen into obscurity. M.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
