TGIF POU! We continue our series on the actions of black athletes against social and political injustices. Today we feature the legendary Arthur Ashe. "After he contracted the AIDS virus he was asked, 'Is this the hardest thing you've ever had to deal with?' And he said, 'No, the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with is being a black man in this society," … [Read more...] about Friday Open Thread: Black Athletes and Social/Political Protest
African American Tennis Players
Friday Open Thread: African American Tennis Players
Good morning Pragmatic Obots! The African American Tennis Players series concludes today with Venus Williams. Venus Ebony Starr Williams (born June 17, 1980), is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 41 as of September 10, 2012 in singles. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on … [Read more...] about Friday Open Thread: African American Tennis Players
Thursday Open Thread: African American Tennis Players
Good morning Pragmatic Obots! It was an historic moment. In the 1990 Wimbledon women’s singles final, Martina Navratilova won her ninth singles title when she defeated Zina Garrison, the first Black woman to play on Wimbledon’s center court since 1958, when Althea Gibson won her second of two Wimbledon crowns. Being first has been a common occurrence for Ms. Garrison. … [Read more...] about Thursday Open Thread: African American Tennis Players
Wednesday Open Thread: African American Tennis Players
Good morning Pragmatic Obots! Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26, 1981) is a professional American tennis player. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world number one in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002, and regained this ranking for the fifth time on November 2, 2009. She is the only female … [Read more...] about Wednesday Open Thread: African American Tennis Players
Tuesday Open Thread: African American Tennis Players
Good morning Pragmatic Obots! Althea Gibson was born in Silver, South Carolina on August 25, 1927. She grew up in a poor family in Harlem but caught the attention of a Lynchburg, Virginia doctor who was active in the African American tennis community. Dr. Walter Johnson became Althea's patron and was later known for mentoring Arthur Ashe. Through her connection with … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: African American Tennis Players