When Venus and Serena Williams first rose to international prominence, they quickly changed the definition of tennis.
These were two black girls from Compton, California. It’s a place Selina is proud to call her home, but it’s also a city made famous by her rap group, NWA. NWA’s lyrics highlight gang violence, police brutality, and violent crime.
With the exception of Evonne Goolagong Corley, who in 1971 became the first Aboriginal to win a women’s singles tournament at Wimbledon, it’s fair to say that tennis was mostly lily white.
It was an elite sport. Blonde ponytails, trimmed physiques, branded sweatbands and plenty of perks. (And where there was privilege, there were also plenty of explosive tantrums.)
Venus and Serena not only have powerful serves and great athleticism, but they also wear beads in their hair, braid their hair, wear costumes, and proudly and unashamedly wear black. attracted attention. .
Along the way, the Williams sisters put their own stamp on popular culture.
They did very well, made it to the finals, and won the tournament. The pair were so dominant in his early 2000s that they met in four straight Grand Slam finals.
As a doubles pair, they were an extraordinary presence, winning 14 Grand Slam titles and 3 Olympic gold medals.
Tennis has attracted a whole new legion of fans who previously thought the sport wasn’t for them.
Lori Latrice Martin is one of them. She is Professor of African and African American Studies at Louisiana State University. Her areas of expertise include sports sociology.
She didn’t really like tennis until Venus and Serena came on the scene, but she remembers that time well.
“I was introduced to Venus and Serena and their father, Richard Williams,” Professor Martin said.
“And hearing them have confidence at such a young age about the skill sets they have, the talent they have, the work ethic they have, and their commitment to success, it’s really contagious.
“I couldn’t help but want to root for them and see them succeed.”
In the biopic King Richard, Mr. Williams (Will Smith) mentors young Serena (Demi Singleton) and Venus (Sanya Sidney) in a public court in Compton, where they spend hours before their family moves to Florida. also spent practicing. tennis academy.
Professor Martin said seeing the representatives on the tennis court instilled in her a great deal of pride after the girls made a name for themselves.
“They had a huge impact on how people, especially black girls, and black women and black men, viewed themselves.
“They represent what Black people already knew: If they had the chance to show how good they were at anything, they could thrive and reach out to their entire community and even people outside of it. It helps motivate me.”
At 30, Sean Grant is too young to witness the rise of the Williams sisters from the beginning.
Grant is senior editor at The Source Magazine, where he writes about hip-hop music, culture, politics and sports.
“I’m an adult and I understood and really appreciated what was going on when the sporting world started winning titles.
“And it was very impressive to see them together in a doubles tournament.”
Grant said there’s been a gatekeeper surrounding tennis for a long time, with Serena and Venus smashing it by creating a “new lane.”
“I grew up in Chicago,” he said.
“So for me, all the iconic figures at the time were black.
“Without Venus and Serena, I wouldn’t have paid attention to tennis.
“Also, I don’t think I would have paid attention to golf without Tiger Woods. So rounding out my best black Mt.
Grant said he never accepted attempts by the Williams sisters to discredit them. As an example, he cites a controversial cartoon published by the Herald Sun that was the subject of an investigation after collecting complaints from around the world.
He says the Williams sisters have gone beyond sports to become celebrities on a level that has spread their brand around the world, but they also show people what’s possible if they really want something and have the work ethic to achieve it. have shown in
“They are beautiful, black, strong, confident women who have their own identity in this white world,” said Grant.
“And they broke the stereotype and said, ‘Come here and beat your ass, but we can do it in a way that we’re comfortable with and show off this style and expression that we have.’ ’ I think I said.
“I really think it’s a literal walking phenomenon.”
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