The Black Fives Foundation Signs Multi-Year Partnership With Puma
In 1926, a Harvard historian by the name of Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History marked the second week of February as “Negro History Week”. Unfortunately, after the passing of Woodson in 1950, Negro History Week had penetrated all aspects of American culture. By 1976, The celebration of Negro History Week expanded to a month. Over the past 50 years, February has become synonymous with the significant contributions made by great African-American leaders including W.E.B. Du Bois, Ralph Ellison, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X., and many others.
Spotlight: Black Fives Foundation
Throughout this month, our team at TGQ Inc. is honoring African-American organizations making significant contributions to their respective communities through black history, education reform, sport programs, and research. To celebrate Black History Month, our team selected the Black Fives Foundation out of Greenwich, CT and Washington, DC. Founded by Claude Johnson. The Black Fives Foundation is a public charity that aims to research, preserve, showcase, teach, and honor, the pre-NBA history of Afro-Americans in the sport.
“I wanted to make this a celebratory moment for my ancestor through using this pen ... this is my way of keeping us connected.”
Mr. Johnson started this non-profit organization with the idea to educate the masses on the cultural significance of Afro-American athletes and their history in the sport of basketball. Johnson is the author of his book titled “Black Fives: The Alpha Physical Culture Club’s Pioneering African American Basketball Team, 1904-1923”. As we continue the celebration of Black History Month, our team will tap into the unique story of Claude Johnson and the Black Fives Foundation.
PUMA PARTNERS WITH BLACK FIVES
As we commemorate the significant contributions made during the Black Era, the cultural impact of sports, music, and entertainment has penetrated popular culture for decades to come. The Black Fives Foundation has recently partnered up with PUMA for a multi-year partnership in support of Black History Education Reform. This cements a unique time in history, unlike most global sports companies, PUMA continues to stand beside global leaders, community organizations, athletes and ambassadors in support of universal equality, justice, and social norms.
Art Graphic by @tgq.inc
Since its existence, The Black Five Foundation has been adamant about educating the masses on the pre-NBA history of African-Americans and their distinct culture. Mr. Johnson is very hopeful for the future of their partnership with PUMA and looks forward to expanding black history education while amplifying voices that speak to the masses.
“We are proud and honored to partner with PUMA toward making a meaningful, long-term difference in
expanding black history education to amplify and include awareness of the important pre-NBA history of
African Americans in basketball.”
Sources confirm that this partnership aims to raise awareness on the historical components of key figures, teams and contributors of the sport. Puma will take part in several initiatives that are geared to make a positive impact in respective urban communities, also special apparel and footwear collections will be released to the Foundation’s Trademark Slogan “Make History Now”. The new Black Fives x PUMA collection will be dropping on February 12th exclusively at PUMA.com and selected retailers across North America. This collection will include the highly anticipated Limited Edition Chenile Clyde Mids.
Photography courtesy of Frédéric Georges, Art Direction by @tgq.inc
MAKE HISTORY NOW
In collaboration with the Black Fives Foundation, PUMA will support the foundation’s education reform plans creatively through on-site activation that includes digital museums to observe its archive of historical artifacts and exclusive content from the Black Fives Era. PUMA will provide a special presentation titled the Virtual Vault, which is an online portal for their audiences to visit, educate, and be inspired to make a difference. With over 1,000 historical artifacts, The Black Fives Foundation aims to be the leader in black history education.
This partnership is a celebratory moment to honour the ancestors of Mr.Johnson, to sign the licensing agreement Johnson used his late grandmother's pen. Check out behind the scenes signing day for Black Fives Foundation and PUMA below. For more information please visit the Black Five Foundation website, where they will be accepting generous contributions that support various charitable initiatives.