Black Fives Foundation executive director Claude Johnson was the guest of Brian Lehrer on WNYC Radio’s Brian Lehrer Show in a segment called Brooklyn’s Secret African-American Basketball History, which aired live on February 8, 2013.
From the show’s website:
When you think “black pioneering athlete” and “Brooklyn” you likely think Jackie Robinson. But Brooklyn played a role in integrating basketball too. Claude Johnson amateur historian researching the “Black Fives” teams — to be honored at a ceremony Sunday at the Barclays Center — discusses the early history of basketball in the area.
Here is the audio:
The show also sent out these tweets before, during, and after the broadcast:
In the studio- @claudejohnson talking about the @blackfives – Brooklyn’s hidden basketball history. twitter.com/BrianLehrer/st…
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) February 8, 2013
The @brooklynnets say “Welcome to BK, birthplace of Michael Jordan.” @claudejohnson thinks they should say “birthplace of Black basketball.”
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) February 8, 2013
“Smart Set Athletic Club of Brooklyn” c1907. Talking w/ @claudejohnson about bball’s hidden local history at 11:40 twitter.com/BrianLehrer/st…
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) February 8, 2013