On the Shoulders of Giants

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar invites readers on a personal journey to explore the Harlem Renaissance, a vibrant period from 1920 to 1940 that empowered African-Americans through unapologetic writings, art, and music. He reveals how this cultural movement, which Jim Crow laws tried to suppress, profoundly shaped American society and his own identity. Starting with the pioneering Harlem Rens basketball team, Abdul-Jabbar connects these historical influences to the person he became.