Zulu Cannibal Giants
Encyclopedia
The Zulu Cannibal Giants were an African American
baseball
team (they referred to themselves as a Baseball "Zulu Tribe
", based on a concept inspired by the war in Ethiopia
) formed in 1938 by Charlie Henry
in Louisville, Kentucky
.
The Zulu Cannibal Giants
gained notoriety for their propensity to turn a baseball game into a comedy performance, much in the same way that the Harlem Globetrotters
did with basketball many years later. The Zulu Cannibal Giants decorated their faces and bodies with Africa
n tribal paint, went shirtless
, wore only grass skirts, used special custom-made baseball bats crafted to supposedly resemble Ethiopia
n war clubs, and always played barefoot
.
Although the team was extremely popular with the public, some black athletes disapproved of the Cannibals because of the stereotype. http://www.charliethejugglingclown.com/baseball.htm
At some point in their career they were managed by New York
promoter Syd Pollock, who also managed a similar novelty team called the Indianapolis Clowns
(also known as the Cincinnati Clowns, and the Ethiopian Clowns). http://www.charliethejugglingclown.com/baseball.htm
Popularly regarded as a Negro League team, they technically were not accepted members of the formal league.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team (they referred to themselves as a Baseball "Zulu Tribe
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
", based on a concept inspired by the war in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
) formed in 1938 by Charlie Henry
Charlie Henry
For the English footballer born 1986 see Charlie Henry Charles Anthony Henry is an English former professional footballer, born in Acton, London, who played in the Football League for Swindon Town, Torquay United, Northampton Town and Aldershot.Henry began his career as an apprentice with Swindon...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
The Zulu Cannibal Giants
Giant (mythology)
The mythology and legends of many different cultures include monsters of human appearance but prodigious size and strength. "Giant" is the English word commonly used for such beings, derived from one of the most famed examples: the gigantes of Greek mythology.In various Indo-European mythologies,...
gained notoriety for their propensity to turn a baseball game into a comedy performance, much in the same way that the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
did with basketball many years later. The Zulu Cannibal Giants decorated their faces and bodies with Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n tribal paint, went shirtless
Barechested
Barechested most commonly refers to a male wearing no clothes above the waist, exposing much or all of the torso. It is also known as "stripped to the waist" or "being shirtless"...
, wore only grass skirts, used special custom-made baseball bats crafted to supposedly resemble Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n war clubs, and always played barefoot
Barefoot
Barefoot is the state of not wearing any footwear. Being barefoot is regarded as a human's natural state, though for functional, fashion and social reasons footwear is worn, at least on some occasions...
.
Although the team was extremely popular with the public, some black athletes disapproved of the Cannibals because of the stereotype. http://www.charliethejugglingclown.com/baseball.htm
At some point in their career they were managed by New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
promoter Syd Pollock, who also managed a similar novelty team called the Indianapolis Clowns
Indianapolis Clowns
The Indianapolis Clowns were a professional baseball team in the Negro American League.- Founding :They began operation in Cincinnati in , and operated between Cincinnati and Indianapolis in 1944 and 1945 before officially moving in...
(also known as the Cincinnati Clowns, and the Ethiopian Clowns). http://www.charliethejugglingclown.com/baseball.htm
Popularly regarded as a Negro League team, they technically were not accepted members of the formal league.