By setting up the New York Renaissance in 1923, Robert Douglas swung African-American basketball into professionalism. And in a very beautiful way since his Rens have reigned over the orange ball for many years, even without any racial consideration, by offering their community joy and hope.
His leadership qualities, his integrity, his intelligence meet the criteria for Bob Douglas to have his place in the Hall of Fame. Its greatest reward is written in the hearts of its players. His influence for the black community both among amateur and professional gamers will remain long after he and the rest of us are forgotten.
Like other Original Celtics teammates, Nat Holman is not stingy with compliments when referring to New York Renaissance boss Robert “Bob” Douglas, an often-matched opponent around the thirties. But it took time, courage and energy to obtain this respect and its father status of african american professional basketball. Especially for a Caribbean immigrant who arrived in New York from Saint Kitts in 1901, born before the invention of the sport.
In 1905, the discovery of basketball changed his life. He began to test the swelling and found a way to structure his own practice by co-founding the Spartan Field Club in 1908. The goal? Provide members of its community with a place to play sports. Football and cricket, as in the country, but also athletics. And basketball, as part of the Spartan Braves team.
Admittedly, he does not shine as a player, but his Spartans grow up in the midst of the New York Black Fives. Everything accelerated when Robert Douglas hung up the sneakers at 36 years old to concentrate on the management of the team, a role in which he showed himself to be much more brilliant than on the floor. Unfortunately, as it follows the directives of the historical teams of Big Apple, its Spartan Braves remain amateurs and stagnate, when the sport in general evolves in the USA. Indeed, during the first half of the twentieth century – especially during the Roaring Twenties – the professionalization of sport gained momentum. Finally, among the whites. The separation remains clear: no, African Americans should not benefit from the money of the competitions. If they want to make wheat thanks to their physical abilities, their skill… and although they do it among themselves!
Luckily, entrepreneurs decide to take up this challenge. Robert Douglas in turn embarks on the professional adventure. He leaves the amateur structure carried by the historic African-American clubs and puts himself in battle order to set up a profitable business.
First step, recruit to have a competitive training. Easy thing with its network. Second, find a room. He convinces the owner of the Renaissance Ballroom & Casino in Harlem to host him, with a large share of ticketing and the change of the name of the team. The Spartan Braves have a roof, and become the New York Renaissance, very quickly nicknamed Rens for the general public. Born in 1923, this first professional Black Five entirely managed by members of the African-American community took off in 1925 with the title of Colored Basketball World’s Champions.
The African-American press, long sided with the amateur world, turns around and supports the man who, by abandoning the historic Black Fives, dealt them the coup de grace. The crowd also responds, and on the side of Harlem, the Rens are the new pride. Who after several tries defeats the Original Celtics, the best white team of the time. The popularity is growing. Goes beyond the Big Apple. Bob Douglas’ team travels to other countries to bring in more money. Always further, always longer, to keep finances afloat during the Great Depression.
Despite the racism encountered on the roads, the Rens are inflating their balance sheet. At the end of their story, 2318 victories are displayed on the counter for only 381 defeats, with a series of 88 consecutive successes during the 1932-33 season. And unlike the other rising Black Five at the time – the Harlem Globetrotters – the Renaissance Big Five players shine without clowning around. A path that Bob Douglas refuses to take:
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.
It is for this reason that the Rens remain so popular among African-Americans, carrying the image of the “New Negro” symbol of the Harlem Renaissance movement and claimed by the leader of their community, WE. DuBois. Educated. Confident. Proud. Professional. Who assumes himself and does not seek to enter the boxes where the Whites want to restrict him.
So when on March 28, 1939, the Rens won the World Professional Basketball Tournament – the first integrated tournament in history – Robert Douglas had his ultimate achievement. By staying the course, true to his convictions, he is teaching white people a lesson. With the same rules, the same opportunities, African Americans can be the best.
But Smiling Bob wants even more. In his search for equality, he wants his Rens to join a professional league from now on. He knocks on the door of the NBL and the BAA. In vain. Until 1948 when the NBL, following the bankruptcy of a franchise, turned to Robert Douglas. On one condition: the Rens must play in Dayton, Ohio. Time to finish the season with difficulty in a city where they are not supported and the league merges with BAA to form the NBA. Without integrating the Rens – or any African Americans.
If regrets necessarily exist for not having been able to fight on equal terms and play in the NBA, the taf provided by Robert Douglas is nonetheless immense. His induction into the Hall of Fame in 1972 inscribed him in posterity, nine years after his Rens team. A place that earned him the first African American to land in the Basketball Hall of Fame as an individual.
Source : Hot Potato de Bob Kuska, They Cleared The Lane de Ron Thomas et BlackFives.org
