When Ashe was born, Monument Avenue in Richmond was lined solely with statues of confederate leaders like Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee; now a bronze statue of Arthur Ashe, holding a book and a tennis racquet in his hands, surrounded by children, stands on that same street. His legacy lives on in the naming of the main court at the US Open, the Arthur Ashe Learning Center, and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award given annually at the ESPYS. Fittingly, the award recognizes athletes and non-athletes for their accomplishments on and off the field. Past recipients of the award include Jim Valvano, Pat Tillman, Nelson Mandela, and Tommie Smith. These are just a few of the ways, that Arthur Ashe, three-time Grand Slam champion, has been lionized …show more content…
Soon after winning the US Open, CBS brought him on the show not to discuss his athletic accomplishments, but his beliefs as an African-American activist. He spoke about the government's failure to enforce federal civil rights legislation and spoke about the Civil Rights and Voting Acts. While he embraced much of the black power movement, he also denounced the more radical parts of black nationalism. While people on all sides of the aisle lauded this singular performance for its intelligence and rationality, many criticized him for his views on civil rights. Ashe believed he was "doing it his own way," but many saw his mild-mannered responses to discrimination as cowardly, or even Uncle Tom-esque. Billie Jean King, the female tennis player, once said, "Christ, I'm blacker than Arthur …show more content…
Richmond was a segregated city, and Ashe lived in a poor, black neighborhood. Jim Crow laws were in full force in the South in the 1940's, restricting African-Americans to inferior amenities; and Ashe grew up swimming in "colored pools." Social mobility was very limited, and lynchings still occurred. Moreover, African-Americans weren't even guaranteed some of America's most fundamental rights, including the right to vote. The Virginia constitution banned blacks from voting from 1902 to 1965 and they had little political power. There were no black city councilmen between 1896 and 1948. Arthur Ashe's childhood world was one of white
First and for most, both women were determined to reach for their goals, even if their race and gender held them down. Althea Gibson, instead of giving up knowing that she will never enter one of the world-wide tennis tournaments she kept trying. Raised in Harlem, New York she still trained and soon won many tennis titles and was the first African-American woman in a woman's tennis league. Within the article "Althea Gibson" written by Vitor Paiva it states, "Althea Gibson blazed a new trail in the sport of tennis, winning some of the sport's biggest titles in the 1950's and
To auspicate, Althea Gibson and Barbara C. Jordan were two African American women that were brave enough to surpass their odds and do what many other thought they couldn't. Both of these woman were African American which meant that they both weren't able to do things the whites could have done easily. Althea Gibson was the first African American woman to play tennis at a high level. Barbara C. Jordan was the first African American woman to be elected to the
Civil Rights Movement in the United States, was a political, legal, and social struggle to gain full citizenship rights for African Americans and to achieve racial equality. The civil rights movement was a challenge to segregation, the system of laws and customs separating blacks and whites.
African American people have come a long way from the illiterate slaves, who were once picking cotton in fields, to powerful political leaders. A prime example would be President Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States of America. But first we must ask ourselves, how did this occur? Who lead African Americans to better living standards? Civil rights leaders, such as Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks, just to name a few. However, among these great names in history, there is one that stands out, and that man is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King gave hope to those in need with his awe inspiring sermons he performed at the church his grandfather founded. He changed foes to
Ashe had a career filled with many ups and downs and faced considerable hardship playing tennis in an all white sport. He never relished his status as the sole black star in a game dominated by white players, but he didn't run away from it either. One such struggle he faced was his trip to South Africa. For many years Ashe had wanted to go to South Africa to play at the South African tennis championships, but every time he tried to gain a visa to travel there he was denied. Finally, in 1973 after much lobbying Ashe was awarded the opportunity to play in South Africa (Arthur Ashe Biography). This occasion was a giant step for not just for South Africa but for Ashe as he became the first African American to play in South Africa’s tennis championships. Amongst all the hate Ashe received from tennis he excelled against all odds and became a trailblazer for black people in tennis. Ashe’s legacy was composed of many firsts for an African American like becoming the first to win a Grand Slam, to be elected onto a US Davis Cup team and win one, in addition to becoming the first African American to be inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame (Carter). Ashe’s career was cut short from medical issues, but he continued to work in the sport becoming an activist for African Americans helping them to exceed in this all white society (Carter). At the young age of 49 Ashe died after his
Althea Gibson was an African American woman born August 25, 1957 in Silver, North Carolina. She attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical School and later Lincoln University as an athletic instructor. In her early life she moved to Harlem, New York, New York because of the Great Depression. She was also increased in basketball and paddle tennis. She quickly became good at tennis and people stared o notice, so Robert Walter Johnson coached, mentored, and sponsored her. She went on to win 11 Grand Slam titles, cementing her legacy, was the first black woman to play professional tennis, and on top of that she broke he racial barrier in tennis. She also played tennis, played he saxophone, and wrote an autobiography called “I Always wanted to
“The bottom line is, people have a right to live their lives even if it doesn’t match what you think is correct. When we fight for civil rights, we must fight for equality for all; anything less is hypocrisy and an insult to the definition of justice itself.” Rev. Al Sharpton is a long time civil rights leader, minister, talk show host, and even has been known to give president Obama advice on civil rights issues. Sharpton’s article is set up by touching on unfair transgender laws in North Carolina, statements made by U.S. representatives, and the civil rights movement as a whole. He limits the article the time period beginning in the civil rights movement. Ding this allows the reader to only think about civil rights from a more progressive mindset. Sharpton does this all from his view. Due to his experience as a civil rights leader he speaks about the movement from a stronger perspective than most.
Althea Gibson (August 25, 1927- September 28, 2003), also known as the tennis Jackie Robinson, was the first African-American woman to not only play amateur tennis but also join the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Althea Gibson was one of the most influential and significant figures in African-American women’s sports history (Douglas). Althea was the figurehead that established that blacks were equal competitors in sports (Gould). On the streets of Harlem, New York City is where Althea got her start; Traveling the globe breaking racial barriers in different countries and winning their tennis tournaments is what Althea did. Although she did not receive any monetary gain from her winnings she did receive many awards and trophies, as well as the meeting of many important individuals.
Althea Gibson was born in 1927 in South Carolina to two sharecroppers on a cotton farm. Her family later during the Great depression moved to Harlem. With the support of her neighbors for money, she received lessons at the Cosmopolitan Tennis Club and in 1941, she won the ATA national championship in the girls division (Trong).Althea gibson was a great influence and role model for African Americans by being the first African American to win as many championships as she did , showing what African Americans could accomplish in tennis, and opening doors for African Americans . Althea Gibson influenced African Americans by being the being the first African American to win as many championships as she did.
Alvin Ailey was a phenomenal choreographer, dancer, and activist whose work focused on the narrative of the African American during the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement. Informed and inspired by black church services, gospel music, and everything spiritual, the collaborations between him and Duke Ellington come as no surprise. Ellington’s career also focused on depicting “the character and mood and feeling of [his] people”, except he executed this artistry through musicianship in composing, conducting, songwriting, and bandleading. Together, they were both able to uplift and celebrate the Black American and their rich culture, during a time of trauma and the unforgivable horrors of slavery, meanwhile revolutionizing and
Serena Williams is the number one women’s tennis player in the world. Her outstanding skills have earned her 50 million dollars through just prizes; that is more than any other athlete in the world (“Serena Williams Fast Facts”). Her fast reflexes, amazing skills, and outgoing personality have made her known as a powerful woman and an inspiration to many young girls. This African-American woman is almost six feet tall and is made of steel. With her long, muscular legs and her quick arms, no wonder she is number one!
Billie Jean King: Portrait of a Pioneer shows the dedication and drive that women had to have in order to be successful at sports in the twentieth contrary. Billie Jean King who came from a very athletic family first got her inspiration to succeed at sports from the athletic sermons she herd in church every Sunday as a young child. One of her friends was starting to play tenses and she wanted to start also. After working around the neighborhood to earn the money for her first racket, Billie Jean King overcame many obstacles along with great personal struggles to become the best professional tennis player of her time.
In a time of great curiosity all it takes is for one voice to capture a tradition to share to the world. Throughout history many public figures used their voice to spread a message that can help those who are oppressed amd viewed differently based on race or tradition. Author Alex Haley wrote most of his texts in a time known as the Civil Rights Movement, most of his novels covered the lives of slaves or famous African Americans in order to show the whites what life was like for slaves and African Americans, Haley depicts the theme of the struggle for a people that are viewed inferior by the mass and how they dealt with it. Alex Haley is a historic author that has written many great novel, but just like most people he comes from a humble
Muhammad Ali was an American boxer and activist. He was born in Kentucky on 17 January 1967, and died on 3 June 2016. Muhammad Ali started taking boxing lessons after his bicycle was stolen when he was 12 years old. At the age of 18, he won the gold medal in the light heavyweight division. He won three world-cup heavyweight championships. He fought sixty-one times and only lost five times. He followed that dream for 30 years, and became one of the greatest boxers of all time, and Muhammad Ali was active in the civil rights movement in many ways. For instance, in the civil rights movement, Muhammad Ali changed his name because he thought that Cassius Clay was a “Slave name,” and he changed his name to Muhammad Ali. In 1960, shortly after winning the heavy weight title, he changed his religion, and converted to Islam. Muhammad Ali joined other leaders in the civil rights movement, such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King to help in the Black Community. Muhammad Ali fought for what he believed in and impacted the civil rights movement such as changed his name, religion, drafted into the Vietnam war and he tried to make the black community equal to the white
The Civil Rights Movement of the 50's and 60's was arguably one of the most formative and influential periods in American history. Hundreds of thousands of civil rights activists utilized non violent resistance and civil disobedience to revolt against racial segregation and discrimination. The Civil Rights Movement began in the southern states but quickly rose to national prominence. It is of popular belief that the civil rights movement was organized by small groups of people, with notable leaders like—Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, and even John F. Kennedy—driving the ship. That is partly correct. The Civil Rights Movement, in its truest form, was hundreds of thousands of people organizing events and protests,