Blacks at the Net: Black Achievement in the History of Tennis, Volume OneWhile much has been written about black triumphs in boxing, baseball, and other sports, little has been said of similar accomplishments in tennis. In this book, the first is the first volume dedicated to that subject, Sundiata Djata more than cites facts and figures, he explores obstacles to such performance such as the discrimination that kept blacks out of pro tennis for decades. He examines the role that this white sport traditionally played in the black community. And he provides keen insights into the politics of professional sports and the challenges faced by today's black players. Drawing on original and published interviews, life writings, and newspaper articles, the author offers an in-depth look at black participation in tennis: from the first courts in Tuskegee in 1880, to players Reginald Weir and Gerald Norman, Jr., who challenged racism in the U. S. Lawn Tennis Association in the 1920s; from Harlem teen Bob Ryland's historic match with two white women in 1944 to the achievements of acclaimed later stars like Althea Gibson, Arthur Ashe, Yannick Noah, and Venus and Serena Williams. Thoroughly researched and comprehensive in scope, the work's eventual two volumes will cover identity and black tennis in aboriginal Australia, North and South Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas. it is an ideal read for tennis players, sports historians, readers of black history and/or black sports figures, and all who are interested in the sport. |
Contents
The American Tennis Association and the Early Years | 1 |
Althea Gibson The Jackie Robinson of Tennis? | 28 |
Arthur Ashe Citizen of the World | 42 |
A New Horizon | 69 |
The Houston Triumvirate | 88 |
The PostSoul Era | 107 |
The Additional Burden of the Professional Black Player | 142 |
Racism in Tennis | 162 |
ATA Championship Singles | 221 |
World Rankings of Black Players 19791992 | 224 |
USTA Circuit Winners and RunnersUp | 226 |
Some of the Best Matches by Black Players 19572001 | 229 |
The Results of the First Annual Southern Tennis Championships July 911 1630 | 232 |
Notes | 233 |
Glossary | 261 |
Bibliography | 263 |
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Common terms and phrases
Allen Althea Gibson argued Arthur Ashe Ashe's ATA National Atlanta Author's interview Award ball basketball became began black athletes black players black tennis players Branch Curington career champion Chanda Rubin Chicago circuit coach Connors Davis Cup defeated doubles Doug Smith Evert Farrow final football Forest Hills France French Open Graf Grand Slam Hingis Ibid Jimmie McDaniel Johnson July June junior kids Lawn Tennis Lorge Lori McNeil lost Magazine major MaliVai Washington match National Championships Navratilova Negro play tennis professional tennis quarterfinals race racial racism ranked number Rodney Harmon role semifinals Sept Serena Williams Shelton Sports Illustrated Tennis Association Tennis Club Tennis Week tournament Tuskegee U.S. National U.S. Open United USA Today USLTA USTA Venus Williams wanted white players wild cards Wilkerson Williams sisters Wimbledon winner women's World Tennis writer Yannick Noah York Zina Garrison