Tennis Hall of Fame is celebrating Black History Month with two new education initiatives
The International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) is celebrating Black History Month by introducing two new initiatives to highlight the impact of black tennis athletes on sport and culture.
The ITHF has added 16 new additions to its Breaking Boundaries in Black Tennis digital exhibit, which showcases the breakthroughs, evolution and impact of black tennis players and contributors around the world. New additions include current stars Frances Tiafoe and Angella Okutoyi, and American legends Rodney Harmon, Renee Blount and Stanley Franker.
The ITHF has also partnered with the National Archives and the National Archives Foundation to host a lecture by Professor Ashley Brown to discuss her book, ‘Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson’. The talk will take place on February 27 and will explore the life of Hall of Famer Althea Gibson, who was the first African-American to win Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon, Roland Garros and the US Open.
In her book, Professor Brown recounts Gibson’s public career and private struggles and places her life in the context of the Great Migration, Jim Crow racism, the integration of American sports, the civil rights movement, the Cold War and the second wave. feminism. The conference will take place in the USTA wing of the International Tennis Hall of Fame museum and will be broadcast live by the National Archives.
“The International Tennis Hall of Fame is thrilled to recognize these new additions to Breaking Boundaries,” said Katrina Adams, chair of the ITHF’s Black Tennis History Committee. “Through this exhibit, the ITHF is preserving the history of these people and sharing their stories of inspiration with the next generation.”
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International Tennis Hall of Fame announces initiatives for Black History Month
The ITHF has announced 16 new additions to the Breaking Boundaries in Black Tennis digital exhibit and will be partnering with the National Archives to host a talk on Althea Gibson on February 27.
FEBRUARY 1, 2023, NEWPORT, RI, USA – The International Tennis Hall of Fame is celebrating Black History Month with two new educational initiatives that highlight the role of black tennis athletes in history and culture.
As part of the ITHF’s ongoing initiative to educate and shine a light on black tennis history, fans can now explore 16 new additions to the Breaking Boundaries in Black Tennis digital exhibit. The ITHF is also partnering with the National Archives and the National Archives Foundation to host a conference with Professor Ashley Brown to discuss her book Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson.
New additions to Breaking Boundaries in Black Tennis showcased throughout February. Launched in February 2022, the Breaking Boundaries digital exhibit highlights the breakthroughs, evolution and impact of Black tennis players and contributors around the world. Fans can browse the interactive online globe at breakingboundaries.tennisfame.com to explore the accomplishments of these individuals on the court and their lasting impacts on the sport.
Over the past year, fans have submitted their suggestions for noteworthy additions to the ever-growing exhibit. After review by the ITHF Black History Committee, several fan submissions were added to the committee’s selections.
The 16 additions for 2023 include current stars such as American Frances Tiafoe and Kenyan Angella Okutoyi, alongside American legends like administrator Rodney Harmon, WTA champion Renee Blount and former Davis Cup captain -Bas Stanley Franker.
“The International Tennis Hall of Fame is thrilled to recognize these new additions to Breaking Boundaries,” said Katrina Adams, chair of the ITHF’s Black Tennis History Committee. “Through this exhibit, the ITHF is doing vital work to preserve the stories of these people and share their stories of inspiration with the next generation. We are grateful for the tremendous reception and many fan submissions to Breaking Boundaries over the past year.
Coming February 27: Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson.
In collaboration with the National Archives and the National Archives Foundation, the ITHF will host Professor Ashley Brown to discuss her new book Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson on Monday 27 February.
The event will take place in the USTA wing of the International Tennis Hall of Fame museum, with tickets on sale now for $26 at tennisfame.com/serving-herself-lecture. Attendees are encouraged to attend a reception with light food and beverages beginning at 6:00 p.m., followed by a talk and book signing. The conference will also be broadcast live by the National Archives.
In her full biography, Brown chronicles the public career and private struggles of Hall of Famer Althea Gibson. From her paddle tennis debut on the streets of Harlem as a teenager to her 11 Grand Slam titles to her career as a professional golfer, Gibson became the most accomplished black sportswoman of the mid-20th century. During her unprecedented athletic career, she was the first African American to win titles at Wimbledon, and what is now known as the French Open and US Open.
Based on extensive archival work and oral histories, Serving Herself situates Gibson’s life and choices in the context of the Great Migration, Jim Crow racism, the integration of American sports, the civil rights movement , the Cold War and second-wave feminism.
Ashley Brown is currently Assistant Professor and Allan H. Selig Chair in Sport and Social History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Professor Brown’s article “Swinging for the State Department: American Women Tennis Players in Diplomatic Goodwill Tours, 1941-1959” was honored by the North American Society for Sport History in 2015 and subsequently published in the Journal of Sport History . The Journal of African American History also published its scholarship.