Emerging global news and entertainment channel, ARISE NEWS, on Saturday night won at the New York Emmys for the documentary: ‘Game Changers: How the Harlem Globetrotters Battled Racism.’
The documentary was recognised in the Nostalgia Programme category and is the first Emmy for the fast-rising channel founded by Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Newspapers, Nduka Obaigbena.
On winning the Emmy, Co-Executive Producer Alan J. Weiss sent a simple note to Obaigbena: ”Thank you Nduka, I’m glad we made you proud!”
Obiagbena congratulated his team saying: “Congratulations to all founding members of the ARISE News Channel in New York, London and Africa who made this feat possible even before the formal launch of ARISE News!”
Obaigbena, who is also Co-Executive Producer of the documentary continued: “ARISE News is a different kind of 24/7 news and entertainment channel. We provide coverage and perspective on global events seldom given airtime.”
Weiss elaborated on the documentary’s subject matter; “The story of the Harlem Globetrotters mirrors the Civil Rights struggle in America. It’s important that these often overlooked heroes – lionised around the world, but treated as second class citizens at home – receive the recognition they deserve.”
The documentary has stirred up emotions against racism in America, with professional basketball as a prime example in the 1940s and 1950.
“The story of the Harlem Globetrotters mirrors the civil rights struggle in America. It’s important that these often overlooked heroes – lionized around the world, but treated as second class citizens at home – receive the recognition they deserve,” said Alan Weiss, the executive producer of the documentary.
Former LA Lakers owner Don Sterling’s explosive comments exposed the undertone of racism that still exists in professional basketball. No players are more aware of this pernicious bias than those who played for the Harlem Globetrotters in the 1940s and 1950s.
Long after Jackie Robinson hit his first ball as a Dodger, the NBA was still a “whites only” league. The ARISE News Special takes an historical look at the early days of professional basketball and how the Harlem Globetrotters not only dealt with racism, but helped change the world of sports.
Hosted by ARISE News anchor Julian Phillips, the documentary includes interviews with former Globetrotters: Wilt Chamberlain, Meadowlark Lemon, Marques Haynes, William ‘Pop’ Gates, Gene Hudgins, Andy Johnson, Charlie Hoxie and Carl Green.
Members of the ARISE Team who contributed are:
Executive Producers: Nduka Obaigbena and Alan J. Weiss
Host: Julian Phillips
Writer: Deborah Gobble
Producer: Marilou Yacoub
Assistant Producer: Ojy Okpe
Graphics & Animation: Pierre Vilmenay
Studio Director: Larry Michaels
Studio Director: Jack Niesi
ARISE News is a 24-hour news channel with broadcast hubs in London, New York, Johannesburg and Lagos. Its team of 500 journalists report cold, hard facts with a range of opinions and insightful analysis.
This is the first win for ARISE News since its soft launch in 2013.
Disclaimer
Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.