Untitled (basketball players playing on court; man in front passing the ball, Harlem Globe Trotters) c. 1947

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, showing basketball players, likely the Harlem Globetrotters, in action. There’s such dynamism in this image, a real sense of movement. What cultural narratives do you see embedded here? Curator: The Harlem Globetrotters, as a symbol, carry a lot of weight. They represented Black excellence and entertainment during a time of significant racial segregation. The image captures not just a game, but a form of cultural diplomacy. Editor: Diplomacy through basketball? Curator: Precisely. Their tours abroad projected an image of American goodwill, even as civil rights struggles continued at home. Does the image challenge or reinforce pre-conceived notions? Editor: It definitely makes me reconsider the complexities of representation and cultural exchange. Curator: Indeed, the photograph is a potent reminder of the multiple layers of meaning an image can hold.