today in Black history - feb 13

The first all Black professional basketball team, the NY Renaissance, was formed on February 13, 1923

When I think about the Harlem Renaissance, I don’t typically think about sports. Music, poetry, literature, visual art, critical consciousness, yes. Basketball, not so much. It turns out that omitting athletics from that picture is taking a limited view on the actual scope and impact of the Harlem Renaissance movement. Here is an article and a website where you can learn a bit more about the NY Renaissance (the Rens), the first all Black, Black-owned basketball team. The website is cool because it showcases the team in its current form, where the team’s legacy has been preserved.