In 1939 A team of hard playing black men from Harlem faced a fiercely competitive white team from Chicago in a game that would forever change the face of basketball and America. This is the story of The Harlem Rens, America's first all-black professional basketball team. The Rens rose to fame during a time when jazz was the soul of Harlem and basketball was its heartbeat. When a home court doubled as a dance hall and was shared with some of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. Our documentary, On the Shoulders of Giants , showcases the personal stories and histories of the most famous icons of this era, tracing their lasting influence into the 21st century to those who were inspired by this astounding outburst of creative energy known throughout the world as the Harlem Renaissance.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , basketball legend and best selling author, invites us to witness the Harlem Renaissance through his eyes as he shares his lifelong passion for the legends that inspired him to greatness. Through his eyes, we will go back to a time when basketball and jazz were the embodiment of black America. A time filled with celebrated giants like Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, and Joe Louis.
Jazz and basketball. Basketball and jazz. Back then it was easy to see the parallels. Both athletes and musicians performed not just to entertain, but to prove they and their entire race were worthy of the opportunities that their white counterparts enjoyed. And Kareem was born into the very midst of it, carried on the shoulders of black men trying to prove there was a lot more at stake than an athletic contest, and by men and women who made music that could break your heart.
We'll travel deep into the soul of the Harlem Renaissance and visit its night clubs, restaurants, basketball games, and those fabulous parties that made the Jazz Age an indelible part of history. We'll listen to stories from today's athletes, jazz musicians, comedians, actors, politicians ,entrepreneurs, and writers who were also inspired by this unique time in history. We'll visit famous landmarks, hear historical figures speak, and listen to the soundtrack of Harlem. And at the center of it all, we'll hear which team won the first-ever professional basketball championship, what it took for them to get there, and how it changed the world. A world that is still riding On the Shoulders of Giants.
