New York, early twentieth century. While basketball is only a few years behind it, African Americans are finding in this new sport not only a healthy activity but also a way to uplift themselves socially. Through organizations that are set up, training is emerging. Among these institutions sponsoring or sheltering a Black Five, that of the Alpha Physical Culture Club – nicknamed Alpha Big Five – is one of the pioneers.
West Indies Crew
The story of the Alpha Physical Culture Club is a bit like the story of Caribbean immigrants who landed in the USA with their culture and their entrepreneurial will. These men – and women – from the West Indies play a major role in the development of New York basketball. Whether directly on the pitch as players, in the offices as leaders or in the press with many influential journalists, they dictate the rules. Show the way for the orange ball to play a role of fulfillment and social progress. Well established, in solidarity with each other, they take power. So much so that during the first half of the twentieth century, they were the kings of African-American basketball in New York.
A status that sometimes disturbs. Within the community, there are conflicts. As Claude McKay – author and poet of the Harlem Renaissance explains – American-born African-Americans do not appreciate the very British, educated style of the Caribbean. Who for their part blame their lack of hard work on migrants from southern states. Despite these tensions, common ground remains: a certain unity must remain because they have to face racism and segregation.
L’Alpha Physical Culture Club
Among the five thousand Caribbean people who landed in the Big Apple – of the total twenty thousand in the United States – in 1900 were Gerald, Conrad and Clifton Norman. Three Jamaicans present on US soil since 1893. Eleven years after their arrival with Uncle Sam, their observation is clear: disease and death rate among African Americans comes from lack of physical activity car selon Conrad Norman :
“Opportunities for people of color in New York City are lacking to engage in physical exercise that builds and strengthens the heart and lungs. »
They then wonder why and how, in a city where so many African Americans live, such sports facilities for his people are not available while they are booming for whites. With his brothers, they decide to stick their fingers out and offer an alternative. They create the first African-American sports club in the country, the Alpha Physical Culture Club. Alpha, because they are the pioneers. And Physical Culture because at the time, this movement, also called Muscular Christianity, was fashionable. It is based on the ideal of a healthy body in a healthy mind. And that healthy body through physical exertion leads to a better mind. They thus agree with the words of Booker T. Washington, a major leader of the African-American community:
“There is little doubt that one of the Negro’s weaknesses is physical. Especially if we focus on those living in big cities […] But in most cases, the origin of this physical weakness can be found in ignorant non-compliance with the laws of health or bad habits. »
The adventure then begins, in an adjoining room of a church in Harlem, on West 134th Street. They are only a handful of members at the start to face the immensity of the task ahead and the obstacles to overcome. But they lack neither courage nor determination. Or support from other Caribbean immigrants. A precious help that will follow them throughout the history of the Alpha Physical Culture Club.
An elite club
Behind its motto “A SQUARE DEAL FOR ALL” (fair treatment for all), the club’s mission is therefore to make the link between behaviors – poor hygiene, poor diet, alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity – and health issues of African Americans. And to offer a framework to overcome these harmful habits of which the main concerned are not even aware. In addition to physical exercises and medical advice, the APCC also organizes social activities. All this with the aim of making the members of their community stronger, physically and morally..
In one year, the club is structured. It even has its own gymnasium for sports activities. The number of members is growing, but they are still part of a certain elite. Not only do you have to accept the principles, but also pay substantial registration fees for the time. We therefore find within the club mainly well-established Caribbeans, with comfortable positions: dentists, lawyers, members of the clergy…
Alpha Big Five
While basketball is slowly but surely starting to make its mark in New York, the Alpha Physical Culture Club is also eyeing the orange ball, just to add a new activity to its offer. And when the Smart Set Athletic Club of Brooklyn and the St. Christopher Club – the Big Apple’s two original Black Fives – considered setting up a league to develop the sport in the winter of 1906-07, their eyes turned to the Alpha. Unfortunately, the Norman brothers cannot respond favorably to the proposal. First of all they don’t have a team yet. Then they have other fish to fry when an earthquake hits their native Jamaica on January 14.
Too bad, the Olympian Athletic League is born without them, with the Marathon Athletic Club of Brooklyn in their place. It’s only a postponement, because at the start of the 1907-08 season, the Alpha Big Five is in the game. The three Norman brothers are in the team. The training does not shine by its results. No big deal for the organization which advocates values much more important than victories on a basketball court .
I need a dollar
In order to develop a better quality program, the Alpha quickly realizes that it takes money to invest. In new premises. Including a gymnasium more in keeping with the status of the club. This becomes the priority of Conrad Norman and his family. With as always in sight the wish to allow the community to rise. And solve racial problems. Many events are organized to raise funds, such as November 2, 1909.
On this day, a day of social and sports activities must take place. Coincidentally, it falls on an election day within the Alpha Physical Culture Club. Everything is done to make it easier for members to vote, especially for women. While they do not have the right to put a ballot in a ballot box at the national level, Conrad Norman and his family thus provide symbolic support. Maybe also a little interested, while the Alpha is looking to start a women’s basketball team, the New York Girls. Pioneers trained and managed by Conrad himself. He marries one of the star players, Dory Cole, even if the couple separates a few years later.
After this people parenthesis, let’s get back to the orange ball and the evolution of the Alpha Big Five. Yes, the club – as a whole – has a new gymnasium for physical activities, but this one is far from perfect for basketball. Above all, it is not big enough to attract a large crowd. So, like most other New York Black Fives, the Alpha rents the Manhattan Casino for their matches. Despite the rental cost, the benefits are much more interesting and allow new investments.
The path to the title
Although the Alpha Physical Culture Club advocates amateurism, this money is used to improve the conditions of the players. And therefore to attract guys of a higher caliber. Thus, at the beginning of the 1910s, George “Headache Band” Capers, Howard Dash but above all George Gilmore – considered the best pivot of the time – joined the Black Five. Ambitions are on the rise for Conrad Norman. If the team that represents the APCC is to play a role of model – for the organization, the Caribbean and all of African-American society – this certainly requires an irreproachable attitude, but now also by being competitive.
Good news, the results are starting to arrive, as is the popularity. By going to beat the defending champions Monticello in Pittsburgh in 1913, the Alpha Big Five put an end to the invincibility of the Cumberland Posey team. And gives a stamp to his best season which logically coincides with the title of Colored Basketball World’s Champion. So yes, this reward is shared with Howard University because the two teams could not compete to decide. But no matter, the trophy is there.
Unfortunately, this is a one shot. Certainly, the Alpha Physical Culture Club continues its work for social progress. For example, in 1916, the Black Five rubbed shoulders with a selection of players from the three Manhattan universities. What link will you tell me? Well, it’s a mixed game, the All-Star team against them being made up entirely of white players. The kind of meetings far from being frequent at the time. But in terms of results, the golden age is over.
The fight against professionalism
The primary concern for regaining the pinnacle of African-American basketball is elsewhere for the Alpha Physical Culture Club. The popularity of the orange ball is now attracting entrepreneurs who see the opportunity to make money. Professionalism creeps into the Big Apple. Far from the values advocated by the first Black Fives. Amateurism. Sport for well-being and health. No cheating, no trickery. Respect for opponents. In victory, as in defeat. Except that from the mid-1910s, the pill of setbacks became harder to swallow. Gerald Norman explains why:
“As soon as men are allowed to go from one team to another to reinforce weak places and to satisfy unscrupulous managers, very quickly the game will degenerate. »
And yes, there is money at stake for the teams. So for gamers. And they intend to take advantage of it, which does not suit the Alpha Physical Culture Club. But also to other historic Black Fives – the Smart Set or St. Christopher. A trio grouped under the name Triple Alliance then made every effort to blacklist professional teams – but also players with a professional past – by creating the Metropolitan Basketball Association in the 1920s. Laudable intention certainly, but which will turn against them.
By wanting to organize African-American basketball according to their principles, they offered even more opportunities for professionalism. The biggest stars who have touched money are found in the market. Then the coup de grace is given a few years later by Robert Douglas – the boss of the Spartan Braves major members of the MBA – who leaves the league. It is the end of the golden age of amateur basketball among African Americans, whose pioneers are disappearing from the New York landscape. Even the black press, long lined up behind them because they were fed by other Caribbeans – or descendants – ended up highlighting the work of the Black Fives who had taken the step of professionalism, in particular the New York Rens, heirs of the Spartans.
The era of the Black Fives remains too little known. What about the role of the Norman brothers and their Alpha Physical Culture Club? Yet, like many other formations from the early twentieth century, they encouraged their community to work for unity and pride, trying to offer them a vision and hope for their future. A precious help during a very complicated time for African-Americans.
