Harlem Globetrotters

After watching various clips of the Harlem Globetrotters, I noticed numerous aspects of the Black aesthetic in their performance. Probably the most prominent was that of show-boating. At times during the course of the games, a Globetrotter would break away from the team element of the game and show flashes of individual brilliance such as a behind the back pass or half-court shot. In addition, during breaks before and during the game, the Globetrotters would please the crowd with the passes featured in their "magic circle." As Caponi discusses, this show-boating has always been a part of Black expressive culture. In addition, I also saw a number of slam dunks which, according to Caponi, is a way of both personalizing the act of scoring and a form of stylization as pioneered by African-American players. Furthermore, as Aurthur Ashe stated that the "Black" style of play utilized uncommon jumping ability, speed, and innovative passing skills, these elements were all prominently featured in the Globetrotters' style of play with their fast breaks, amazing behind the back passes, and finishing dunks. In all, as Ashe discussed, the elements of the Black aesthetic as utilized by the Globetrotters show a cultural willingness to improvise and combine to create a game that is "extremely exciting to watch."