You are here:

The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World

Name: The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World
Director: Joseph Sharman, Michael Sear
Released: 2005
Duration: 116 min

Representation Score

2.9/10

Limited

2005

Director

Joseph Sharman, Michael Sear

Runtime

116 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The documentary is a powerful historical retrospective that centers on the ability to act and experiences of Black athletes. It effectively chronicles how the Harlem Globetrotters challenged systemic racial barriers and navigated the complexities of the Jim Crow era through athletic achievement. However, the film's scope is narrow, adhering to the traditional gender dynamics of professional men's sports. This results in a narrative dominated by male voices with very little female representation. While the film serves as a significant document of racial integration and cultural impact, the absence of LGBTQ+ narratives and disability representation limits its overall diversity profile.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses solely on the professional history and biographies of basketball players and management. There are no LGBTQ+ characters or stories that challenge the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World portray gender?

Limited

The story is dominated by male perspectives because of the subject matter of a men's athletic organization. Female characters have limited roles and conventional positions.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World?

Excellent

The documentary excels by highlighting the ability to act and experiences of Black athletes and how they challenged systemic exclusion and navigated the Jim Crow era.

How does The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques historical Western social structures and systemic oppression. It portrays the team's journey as a successful navigation of an oppressive, segregated social landscape.

Does The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no information about the portrayal of visible or invisible disabilities within the documentary's historical focus.

Present on Screen

Highlights the ability to act and experiences of Black athletes during the mid-20th century.
Provides a nuanced exploration of the Black experience during the Jim Crow era.
Critiques systemic oppression and institutionalized racism through sport.

Limited or Absent

Limited female perspectives and roles within the narrative.
No LGBTQ+ characters or stories that challenge the assumption everyone is straight or cisgender.
No visible or invisible disability representation included in the scope.

Official Synopsis

"The Team that Changed the World," investigates the Globetrotters' impact socially and culturally, as well as their lasting effect on the NBA. Featuring interviews with basketball players, celebrities, politicians, and more, the documentary also shows how the Globetrotters continue to serve as "Ambassadors of Goodwill" and touch audiences around the world today.

How are these scores produced? →