History of the Harlem Globetrotters

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Article by: Gail Nobles

When I first saw the Harlem Globetrotters on television, I was a little girl. I loved watching their fancy moves with the basketball and their tricks. Right now today, I wish that I could move like them. I am still fascinated about how they move and play.


Abe Saperstein was the man that started the team. He grew up watching black boys play basketball in the streets of Chicago. Abe started a professional black basketball team. Black guys were not allowed to play on white teams in those days. In 1927, Abe took the team out on the road. There is meaning behind the name “Harlem Globetrotters”. Harlem lets you know that the team is black and the name “Globetrotters” was to make you think that they had traveled all over the world. If I am not mistaken, at first, the Globetrotters had not traveled all over the world. Maybe, Abe believed that they would, and he gave them that awesome name. The Harlem Globetrotters were really not from Harlem. I think the first five came from Chicago. At first, they only had five players.


When the team traveled on the road, times were a bit tough. They did not have much money and they slept in the car. It was very cold. There was also some racial discrimination. But as time went on, things got better for the Globetrotters. They are still famous today and traveling around the world. I have not seen them play in person, but I sure would love to.