New York Renaissance vs. Harlem Globetrotters. A rivalry that sounds like a Big Apple derby over who will sit on the orange ball throne. However, if the question of reign and power between the two teams with very different visions and trajectories does arise, this fight actually opposes a New York Black Five to another Chicagoan. It concerns African-American basketball during the first half of the twentieth century.
It all started before the Globetrotters were the Globetrotters, when Chicagoan African-American basketball was dominated by the Savoy Big Five. The New York Rens are the bosses of the Big Apple. Through the performances of the two teams, it is the rivalry between the cities and their black neighborhoods of Harlem and Bronzeville that arises at the heart of the Great Migration.
New York vs Chicago
Even before the opposition of style, character or vision between the Rens and the Trotters, these are two cities looking at each other. Who want to assert themselves. New York, Chicago. Specifically two neighborhoods. Harlem for Big Apple, Bronzeville for Windy City. The emergence of African-American basketball is only at its puberty, the first wave of the Great Migration structures the urban future of this community. A community that dreams of a better future far from southern segregation. The two cities are then destinations of choice. But perfectly illustrate that racism is not just a story of the South. Indeed, African-Americans remain sidelined and neighborhoods are reserved for them.
The positive point of this separation is that by being grouped together, African-Americans create their parallel society, with its own culture. This is what continues to attract. The neighborhoods of Bronzeville and Harlem become reservoirs to launch a new dynamic and affirm one’s pride. Under these conditions, many establishments are born to allow the inhabitants to have fun. To treat yourself to a good time, to the sound of jazz. But also orange ball because these dance halls also host basketball teams.
Breathing new life into Harlem and Bronzeville
Consequently, competition is established between the two neighborhoods to give rhythm to the life of the African-American community. If Chicago suffers from an inferiority complex compared to New York – as when it is called the “Second City” years later – Bronzeville does not intend to release the slightest ounce of ground to its Big Apple counterpart. While Harlem lives its Renaissance through the words of Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston or the notes of Duke Ellington, the southern district of Chitown – where Bronzeville is located – is no exception. Its nightlife is just as lively and the big names also pass through Illinois.
The speakers come out of the ground to allow all these beautiful people to express themselves. The Renaissance Ballroom & Casino on the Harlem side is one of the best examples from 1921. It is home to the New York Rens, so named to promote their hall. The Savoy Ballroom, still in New York, was also a popular social spot from 1926. Basketball had less of a place and no Black Five resided there. Unlike its little Chicagoan brother of the same name, which opened its doors in 1927. And which became the playground of the Savoy Big Five, ancestor of the Harlem Globetrotters. Bronzeville, like Harlem, therefore has its flagship team for the orange ball. Each in a beautiful room appreciated by the African-American community.
And basketball in all this?
When the Savoy Big Five began its history in 1927, its fame was necessarily much less than that of the Rens. The guys from Harlem have already been shining for several seasons. So certainly, they are making their mark in Illinois and establishing themselves as a leading team. But the step is a bit high to claim to rub shoulders with their New York counterparts. However, their manager Dick Hudson tried the blow at the end of the 1928 season. No response from Bob Douglas and his men who rubbed shoulders with a little tougher competition.
Even before this request, a first controversy, or at least the first criticisms of the press towards the formation of Illinois call into question its legitimacy. Formed recently – in this barnstorming-oriented model – the publicity around her is misleading. With false pedigrees for the players who make it up, to sell better in other cities. Not to the taste of African-American journalists, even those from Illinois, who largely prefer the class of Rens who do not show themselves. This opposition of style, look, approval is just beginning.
Credibility and legitimacy concerns are resolved with the rise of the team, even if Hudson is no longer at the helm. The 1928-29 season ended with a 33-4 record, including a defeat for the first meeting between Rens and Savoy. But the Chicago Black Five is experiencing quite a stir internally. Movements and separations which finally give birth to the Harlem Globetrotters in 1929. From this date, the team abandons its room of the Savoy Ballroom and concentrates on the rounds organized by Abe Saperstein. The man who will slowly but surely take control of the Trotters.
The Globetrotters not in the same league as the Rens
While the Rens play in the big cities against renowned teams – but also less high-sounding blases to inflate their balance sheet – the Harlem Globetrotters evolve in lost bleds. As often in provocation and hyperbole, Saperstein does not hesitate to question the title of Colored Basketball World’s Champions of the Rens in front of the journalists of the Midwest where the Trotters turn. Information side: no reaction. Bob Douglas and his men know very well that their counterparts do not play in the same court, even if there is talent among the Trotters.
The Rens rub shoulders with renowned pro teams. Their self-proclaimed rivals mostly face local farmers. But this difference in adversity and the lack of response from Bob Douglas did not close Saperstein’s mouth, who therefore declared that the Rens refused the challenge. Certainly, he certainly dreams of being able to face them. But even in his delirium, the boss of the Trotters certainly knows that the best for him currently is that the match takes place in the press rather than on the floors where he has no chance. This did not prevent him the following year from continuing in his provocation.
Bragging rights
For him, as the Rens do not want to play against the Trotters, he retroactively attributes the last African-American championship titles to his own. This over several years. As always, his swagger is done a good distance from Harlem, in the middle of touring the Midwest. On the one hand because its advertising affects above all this corner of the USA where the Trotters play regularly. But also because he knows that no one will really come to contradict him.
Moreover, even in Chicago, cradle of the Trotters, the press is under no illusions. At the start of 1934, while the Rens were traveling on the shores of Lake Michigan, the local press was rave reviews, speaking of sporting perfection about Bob Douglas’ team. Worse, it doesn’t even mention the Trotters as a potential competitor to the Rens.
Which is easily understood, because while the Rens are perfecting themselves with rigor, the Trotters are playing the clowns more and more. Two rooms, two atmospheres. Two different areas of influence. If the reputation of the Globetrotters in the Midwest and even further in the West is at the top, it is still the Renaissance who are the bosses in the East of the country. This annoys Abe Saperstein who no longer wants to live in the shadow of this rival.
Abe Saperstein vs Bob Douglas
The two bosses of the Black Fives are complete opposites. Extremes even. Two men, two characters. And an icy relationship. If Bob Douglas doesn’t really doubt the talent of the Harlem Globetrotters, he doesn’t like what Saperstein does with them. For him, you have to respect the opponent and the game. The clowning of the Trotters does not fit into this guideline. Question of dignity, which is as important as victory for those who want to lift the African-American community. For Abe, ambition rests much more on fame and cash flow. If for this it is necessary to give the white public the image of docile black players in order to attract the crowd, the question of social advances does not matter.
The Harlem Globetrotters had become white America’s image of an African-American basketball team. As long as Blacks were clowns, tricking their opponents rather than outsmarting them while speaking barely comprehensible English, they had every right to win. This was all the more true since those enjoying their show were white people like Abe Saperstein, their owner. – Richard Lapchick, son of Joe Lapchick a former player of the Original Celtics who rubbed shoulders with the two Black Fives.
These are two opposing visions. On the one hand that of the “New Negro”, dear to the Harlem Renaissance. So in a way to the Rens who are its representatives on the courts. On the other, a return to Minstrel show accompanied by racial stereotypes that this implies.
For Douglas, this ridiculous spectacle pushes back the place of African-Americans in sport. And therefore in society. The Whites do not necessarily realize the racist aspect of the cartoonish game of the Trotters. For some, these caricatures are even their vision of African Americans. Bob Douglas for his part sees it well. And don’t like it. It goes against everything he has put in place. Everything he built with his people, in terms of work, dignity, seriousness. The community joins him elsewhere. The success of the Trotters and the way in which it is obtained erases all the sacrifices provided by the Rens for many long years
Abe Saperstein died a millionaire because he gave white people what they wanted. When I leave, it will be penniless, but with my conscience. I would never have turned basketball into a burlesque show. I love him too much for that. – Bob Douglas recalling this rivalry in 1979.
Chicago vs. New York, Bronzeville vs. Harlem, Globetrotters vs. Rens, Saperstein vs. Douglas. The picture is set for this rivalry which must now be settled on the courts. But for that, we will have to agree at least on one point for the protagonists. How to set up this meeting to define the king of African-American basketball as the thirties draw to a close.
–
