Five of the veteran Harlem Globetrotters members living in the New York Metropolitan area will be recognized for their perseverance in the face of adversity and racism on and off the basketball court and Mark Johnson, author of Basketball Slave: The Andy Johnson Story, will sign copies of his book at the New York Coalition of One Hundred Black Women’s general membership meeting and Black History Month celebration.
Here are the fab five:
· Carl Green who starred with the “Trotters” from 1954 – 1959;
· Herman Taylor, 1952- 1959;
· Charlie Hoxie, 1955- 1958;
· William “Pony” Wilson and
· Wally Choice, 1956- 1957;
Virginia Montague, President of the New York Coalition of One Hundred Black Women, has encouraged members and friends to bring their spouses and sons to learn more about the history of the world-renowned team and about the activities of the Coalition.
Mark Johnson’s Basketball Slave: The Andy Johnson Story is “filled to the brim with extraordinary tales from behind the scenes of the early Original Harlem Globetrotters and loaded with a wealth of historical information never disclosed about the slow, quota-based inception of African American athletes in the NBA. This book clarifies the role of the Original Harlem Globetrotters in making the NBA the multi-billion dollar organization it is today.”
THE NEW YORK COALITION OF 100 BLACK WOMEN
Salute to the HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Black History Month Celebration and Book Signing.
Saturday, February 26, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Our Children’s Foundation, 527 W. 125th St., bet., Old Broadway and Amsterdam Ave.,3rd Floor
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Basketball Slave
Basketball Slave by Mark Polo Johnson is an exceptionally passionate read. This is a book that Mark Johnson wrote about his famous father, Andy Johnson, who was an original Harlem Globetrotter. It is a beautiful display of loving memories for a father from his son. Every father and son should read this and discover the true meaning of unconditional love. The story keeps your attention from beginning to end. Mark manages to spark my interest during an extensive journey throughout the history of basketball; and although I have not always been a basketball fan, I have over time learned to love the game. But even if you are not a basketball fan, this book has so much to offer. It is so much more than a book about basketball. It is a book about a legend who was constantly engaging a heroic display of excellence, passion, dignity and love of his family and his livelihood, basketball, regardless of the obstacles that he had to constantly endure. It is also offers a peek into the reality of racism which existed even in the most prestigious occupations. The beauty of this story is how Andy Johnson stayed true to himself no matter what the situation was never allowing anything that anyone else did to change who he was and what he stood for. This is an attribute that does not come easy. I can only hope that in my passing that someone will have such a glowing memory of me. What some do not understand is that we are here on this earth to serve God and to make that difference in someone else’s life and Andy certainly served his purpose. Thank you for that story Mark. Love is Love