Black Womxn HERstory Makers Series: Then and Now - Sports
By Jovoney Morton
This week for #BlackHERstoryMonth, we're sharing a match-up of Black womxn changemakers who have made history in sports. Althea Gibson was the first African American to win the Grand Slam title and CoCo Gauff is the youngest ranking womxn in the Top 100 by the Women’s Tennis Association.
Althea Gibson (1927-2003) was an all-around athlete. Although she changed the world of professional tennis, few people know that she also played golf. Althea actually was the first Black womxn to compete on the pro tour. Throughout the 1950’s, Althea continued to set new records and change the face of tennis, forever. She was the first African American to compete at both the U.S National Championship and Wimbledon in 1950 and 1951 respectively. Other major wins include the women’s singles and doubles at Wimbledon in 1957 and the U.S Open in 1958.
With her records, wins, and titles, it’s a no-brainer that Althea was inducted to the Hall of Fame. The support she received from former tennis players and her passion as an athlete combined to create a fulfilling career once she retired from tennis. She served as the commissioner of athletics for the state of New Jersey and a member of the governor’s physical fitness council for nearly a decade.
Althea paved the way for many African American athletes to compete in the tennis world. No longer could the world deny the athletic ability and competitiveness of Black players. CoCo Gauff is one of those players and is currently the youngest high ranking player in the Women’s Tennis Association.
CoCo’s parents are both NCAA Division I athletes, so it’s no wonder CoCo is a global tennis star at the age of 16. She is a former No. 1 Junior tennis player, earning the title before even beginning high school. Her inspiration for tennis stems from watching another extraordinary pair of Black tennis players -- Venus and Serena Williams. She actually went on to play and beat Venus in the opening round of Wimbledon in 2019. CoCo continues to make great strives in her career and will continue to be an inspiration for athletes everywhere.