In addition to making millions of children laugh and providing countless families with an entertaining outing together, the Harlem Globetrotters’ effect has been far-reaching:

• They broke the color barrier in the NBA.

• They impacted race relations in the U.S.

• They introduced basketball to many countries.

By examining a crucial time period in the Globetrotters history — from 1948 to 1951 — the Globetrotters’ significance becomes apparent.