On the Shoulders of Giants

The legendary basketball player is the author of a new book, On the Shoulder
of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance,

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which takes a look
back at the storied history and lasting impact of the Harlem Renaissance
Ballroom.
Abdul-Jabbar discusses how ethnic rivalry was used to promote sports, and the
differences between the Rens and the other well-known all-black basketball
team of the time, the Harlem Globetrotters.
The Globetrotters always clowned around, Abdul-Jabbar says. The club’s owner
thought white Americans would be more comfortable if his team provided
“entertainment” and conformed to negative racial stereotypes that many
whites had “because he did not want to go head to head against racial attitudes
in this country.”
Abdul-Jabbar associates the Globetrotters with Harlem’s most famous club,
the segregated Cotton Club.
The Rens’ approach to the game, on the other hand, was all business.
“They wanted to make everybody respect them as sportsmen,” Abdul-Jabbar
says.
The team’s attitude reflected those of the Harlem Renaissance — the social
movement and the black-owned-and-operated club with the same name.