Are the Harlem Globetrotters from New York? If you said yes, you are wrong. Despite the name “Harlem,” they didn’t begin their journey there, not even close. The team was formed in the 1920s, an era when basketball was dominated by local leagues and barnstorming groups. They didn’t just magically come together either; it was a scrappy rise from obscurity. The original members were talented African American players who faced segregation, so they had to take their game on the road to find competition. Their name choice was a clever marketing move; “Harlem” was synonymous with African American culture and vibrancy, while “Globetrotters” pretty much told you they were balling all over the place. In reality, these so-called world travelers actually started performing in local gyms and little arenas in Chicago. That’s right. The Windy City is where this legendary basketball team truly got their start.
