Basketball in America was behind the birth of sneaker culture much earlier than any sport. Today, the whole world watches the NBA. The influence of the world’s largest basketball league on culture and especially on the visual appearance of urban outfits is always growing, mainly due to its biggest stars. Almost everyone knows who Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or LeBron James are. However, there were times when it was unimaginable for an African-American to be in the top US basketball league. The immortal legacy of the very first representatives of the minority in professional basketball is celebrated by the new Puma collection called The Black Fives.
Harsh racial segregation had functioned in the United States since its birth. It’s crucial to remember that the present, which we perceive as the most tolerant period in human history so far, is still very young. It is a sad fact, for example, that the first African-American woman who was allowed to attend a so-called “white school” is only 66 this year. However, the story of this collection takes us way further back – to 1904, when gymnast Edwin Henderson introduced his students to a game called basketball, during one of his classes at an African-American school in Washington, DC.
Thus began the basketball era, without which perhaps Michael Jordan would’ve never emerged, the Chicago Bulls would have been an unknown team, and perhaps Footshop would be selling rollerblades. A period known as the Black Fives Era had begun.
PUMA X THE BLACK FIVES
Puma reminds us of the history of the Black Fives with a retro collection in which, in addition to comfortable clothing, you will also find a pair of sneakers. With pale blue and yellow tones, the Puma Clyde Mid is shrouded in the vintage atmosphere of old gyms, as does, a bit ironically, last year’s Future Rider.
FROM FIRST SHOT TO FIRST CONTRACT
The following short videos will tell you the full story and context of the Black Fives, mapping the road from the acquaintance of the first African-Americans with basketball in 1904 to their first professional contracts.
History isn’t made on its own, and we should be constantly trying to learn from it. Only by doing so can we move towards a better mutual understanding across cultures and social strata, leading to a much more pleasant coexistence in the future. We’re on the right track in 2021, so let’s not spoil it.
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