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Different Strokes: Serena, Venus, and the Unfinished Black Tennis Revolution
The days of tennis as a country club sport for the aristocracy have long passed, as have the pre–Open era days when black players faced long odds just to be invited to the four Grand Slam events. An entire generation of sports fans has grown up seeing Venus and Serena Williams as the gold standard in American professional tennis.
Although the Williams sisters have done more than any other players to make tennis accessible to a diverse population, it’s not as if the tennis revolution is over. When you watch tennis next, take a close look at the umpire, the person sitting in the high chair of authority at courtside. Look at the tournament referee and the tournament director, the officials who run the tournament. In those seats of power and influence, blacks are still woefully underrepresented.
Different Strokes chronicles the rise of the Williams sisters, as well as other champions of color, closely examining how African Americans are collectively faring in tennis, on the court and off. Despite the success of the Williams sisters and the election of former pro player Katrina Adams as the U.S. Tennis Association’s first black president, top black players still receive racist messages via social media and sometimes in public. The reality is that while significant progress has been made in the sport, much work remains before anything resembling equality is achieved.
Although the Williams sisters have done more than any other players to make tennis accessible to a diverse population, it’s not as if the tennis revolution is over. When you watch tennis next, take a close look at the umpire, the person sitting in the high chair of authority at courtside. Look at the tournament referee and the tournament director, the officials who run the tournament. In those seats of power and influence, blacks are still woefully underrepresented.
Different Strokes chronicles the rise of the Williams sisters, as well as other champions of color, closely examining how African Americans are collectively faring in tennis, on the court and off. Despite the success of the Williams sisters and the election of former pro player Katrina Adams as the U.S. Tennis Association’s first black president, top black players still receive racist messages via social media and sometimes in public. The reality is that while significant progress has been made in the sport, much work remains before anything resembling equality is achieved.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published February 1, 2020
2 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Cecil Harris
3 booksI'm the author of three sports books, the most recent being Charging the Net: A History of Blacks in Tennis from Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe to the Williams Sisters (Ivan R. Dee, publisher). Charging the Net draws on personal interviews and extensive archival research to produce the first in-depth look at blacks in tennis, from the black-led American Tennis Association in the early 1900s to the historic tournament wins by Gibson in the 1950s and Ashe in the 1960s and 1970s to the Hall of Fame careers of Evonne Goolagong and Yannick Noah to the emergence of sisters Venus and Serena Williams as Grand Slam champions and global superstars.
My other books are Breaking the Ice: The Black Experience in Professional Hockey (Insomniac Press) and Call the Yankees My Daddy (The Lyons Press)."
My other books are Breaking the Ice: The Black Experience in Professional Hockey (Insomniac Press) and Call the Yankees My Daddy (The Lyons Press)."
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 9, 2020
Today’s news is full of protesting policy brutality against African Americans. Notable athletes and celebrities of all shades have lent their names to this movement. Most of these athletes play football and basketball, with few names coming from the baseball and boxing communities. One sport which has produced few stars of color has been for the most part absent over the last few weeks: tennis. It has now been over twenty years that iconic superstars Venus and Serena Williams first burst onto the tennis scene, taking the sports world by storm. In the generation since, the United States has failed to develop stars to take their mantle. Where are the tennis players of tomorrow who “want to be like Serena”? In his comprehensive look at the history of black tennis players, Cecil Harris examines all the tennis players of color who have made their mark on what has primarily been a white person’s game.
Long before the Williams sisters changed the course of tennis history, Althea Gibson grew up on the streets of Harlem. The protector of her siblings on the streets, young Althea’s parents wanted her to find an outlet for her aggression. She found her outlet in the form of tennis, yet in the 1930s there were few opportunities for African Americans. Tennis was both an amateur sport and segregated, with only whites being invited to the prestigious American, English, and French National tournaments. Prominent African Americans developed their own tour, the American Tennis Association; Althea Gibson was an early star. It was not until after Jackie Robinson integrated Major League Baseball that Gibson was given the opportunity to play in integrated tennis tournaments, and even in the 1950s, prestigious tournaments offered no prize money. Gibson could have been the Jackie Robinson of her sport politically but she was too busy refining her craft. She also had to make a living and join the women’s golf tour in her mid thirties, eventually becoming employed as a physical education teacher at her alma mater Florida A&M University. Other than the achievements of eventually winning eleven major tournaments, Gibson to this day has not gotten her due as a pioneer.
If Althea Gibson’s name is largely missing from tennis history, Arthur Ashe’s is not. The center court at the national tennis center in Flushing Meadows, New York bares his name. Ashe did not win as many majors as Gibson, but he played in a later era where tennis was professionalized and had greater media exposure. His career was marked by a graceful contrast to his rivals the animated Jimmy Connors and Ilie Nastase. Unlike Gibson, Ashe did take up the mantle for race, visiting South Africa on numerous occasions and meeting with Nelson Mandela. Despite being a champion, Arthur Ashe passed away from complications due to to AIDS at a time when young African American boys were first wanting to be like Mike. Tennis was viewed as a game for “sissies” and a white man’s game whereas basketball and football were games easily accessible to kids on inner city playgrounds. Unless a prodigy was identified early and got a sponsor, tennis was not a sport that many African American kids had access to or desired to play. Gibson and Ashe got lucky in that they had benefactors early in their careers, and, by default, became the most decorated tennis players of color. Harris argues that for more people of color to want to play tennis, development of the sport has to change.
Harris gives the most press to Gibson, Ashe, and the Williams sisters as they have been the most successful; however, there have been other tennis players of color over the years including Zina Garrison, MaliVai Washington, Yannick Noah, and today Sloane Stephens and Frances Tiafoe. Harris believes that tennis remains a white person’s sport and cites many examples of how tennis authorities consistently put down both players and referees of color. Even stars Venus and Serena are not immune to derogatory treatment from officials and fans alike, having boycotted a tournament at Indian Wells, California for many years due to racist undertones there. A generation of girls have grown up watching Venus and Serena win tournaments, but African American boys have no role model who looks like them, at least not yet. Boys would still rather play basketball or football, sports in their eyes that give them greater opportunities to do well professionally. While Harris has cited some developments of inner city tennis centers over the past few years, he argues that there is still a large gap in terms of identifying and developing the next wave of African American tennis stars, if they exist. For now, there are the Williams sisters and few others, as Harris hopes they play indefinitely in case a young kid who has never seen them play watches and tells their parents that they too want to play tennis.
With barely two hundred pages to exhaust one hundred years of tennis history, Harris crams much information into short chapters, omitting details even about even about the game’s biggest stars of color Gibson, Ashe, and the Williams sisters. This book is not as much as a history of black tennis players as it is a plea for more people of color to choose tennis as their primary sport and offers ideas as to how the average African American family can afford to get their children into the game. If not, Harris fears that the achievements of tennis players of color will end when Venus and Serena retire from the game. This book left much to be desired and has lead me to find a comprehensive biography of trailblazing star Althea Gibson. If tennis diversifies more remains to be seen, but one will not find all the answers from this book.
2.75 stars
Long before the Williams sisters changed the course of tennis history, Althea Gibson grew up on the streets of Harlem. The protector of her siblings on the streets, young Althea’s parents wanted her to find an outlet for her aggression. She found her outlet in the form of tennis, yet in the 1930s there were few opportunities for African Americans. Tennis was both an amateur sport and segregated, with only whites being invited to the prestigious American, English, and French National tournaments. Prominent African Americans developed their own tour, the American Tennis Association; Althea Gibson was an early star. It was not until after Jackie Robinson integrated Major League Baseball that Gibson was given the opportunity to play in integrated tennis tournaments, and even in the 1950s, prestigious tournaments offered no prize money. Gibson could have been the Jackie Robinson of her sport politically but she was too busy refining her craft. She also had to make a living and join the women’s golf tour in her mid thirties, eventually becoming employed as a physical education teacher at her alma mater Florida A&M University. Other than the achievements of eventually winning eleven major tournaments, Gibson to this day has not gotten her due as a pioneer.
If Althea Gibson’s name is largely missing from tennis history, Arthur Ashe’s is not. The center court at the national tennis center in Flushing Meadows, New York bares his name. Ashe did not win as many majors as Gibson, but he played in a later era where tennis was professionalized and had greater media exposure. His career was marked by a graceful contrast to his rivals the animated Jimmy Connors and Ilie Nastase. Unlike Gibson, Ashe did take up the mantle for race, visiting South Africa on numerous occasions and meeting with Nelson Mandela. Despite being a champion, Arthur Ashe passed away from complications due to to AIDS at a time when young African American boys were first wanting to be like Mike. Tennis was viewed as a game for “sissies” and a white man’s game whereas basketball and football were games easily accessible to kids on inner city playgrounds. Unless a prodigy was identified early and got a sponsor, tennis was not a sport that many African American kids had access to or desired to play. Gibson and Ashe got lucky in that they had benefactors early in their careers, and, by default, became the most decorated tennis players of color. Harris argues that for more people of color to want to play tennis, development of the sport has to change.
Harris gives the most press to Gibson, Ashe, and the Williams sisters as they have been the most successful; however, there have been other tennis players of color over the years including Zina Garrison, MaliVai Washington, Yannick Noah, and today Sloane Stephens and Frances Tiafoe. Harris believes that tennis remains a white person’s sport and cites many examples of how tennis authorities consistently put down both players and referees of color. Even stars Venus and Serena are not immune to derogatory treatment from officials and fans alike, having boycotted a tournament at Indian Wells, California for many years due to racist undertones there. A generation of girls have grown up watching Venus and Serena win tournaments, but African American boys have no role model who looks like them, at least not yet. Boys would still rather play basketball or football, sports in their eyes that give them greater opportunities to do well professionally. While Harris has cited some developments of inner city tennis centers over the past few years, he argues that there is still a large gap in terms of identifying and developing the next wave of African American tennis stars, if they exist. For now, there are the Williams sisters and few others, as Harris hopes they play indefinitely in case a young kid who has never seen them play watches and tells their parents that they too want to play tennis.
With barely two hundred pages to exhaust one hundred years of tennis history, Harris crams much information into short chapters, omitting details even about even about the game’s biggest stars of color Gibson, Ashe, and the Williams sisters. This book is not as much as a history of black tennis players as it is a plea for more people of color to choose tennis as their primary sport and offers ideas as to how the average African American family can afford to get their children into the game. If not, Harris fears that the achievements of tennis players of color will end when Venus and Serena retire from the game. This book left much to be desired and has lead me to find a comprehensive biography of trailblazing star Althea Gibson. If tennis diversifies more remains to be seen, but one will not find all the answers from this book.
2.75 stars
May 13, 2020
An entire generation of tennis fans have seen sisters Venus and Serena Williams dominate the sport like few others have done in the past. While their accomplishments, most notably Serena’s, are remarkable, their struggles to be accepted and recognized for their greatness within their sport because of racial issues highlight this book by Cecil Harris.
Harris not only writes about the two sisters and their careers, but also educates readers about the larger struggle African-Americans have faced in tennis. Starting with Althea Gibson, the woman credited with breaking the color barrier in the sport, Harris writes with knowledge and passion about her, the Williams sisters, Arthur Ashe, Sloane Stephens and many other black players who have achieved greatness. While the Williams sisters, Gibson and Ashe have the most pages written about them, Harris touches on many different players. He also writes not only about their achievements on the court, but their achievements and struggles off the court as well. A particularly well written piece was about the unprovoked attack by police on former player James Blake in a case of mistaken identity.
Another aspect of the book that is very important to Harris’ message is that he not only writes about players gaining in acceptance and accomplishments, but also the struggles and inequality suffered by African-Americans wishing to seek jobs in the sport in areas such as coaching or umpiring. The inequality in the latter profession, especially in terms of assignments for major tournaments and in moving up in rankings. Umpires are provided a colored card based on experience and merit, ranging from white to gold, with the latter receiving the highest salaries and best assignments.
The writing clearly shows that Harris is not only knowledgeable about the sport, but that he is passionate about both the game and the issues surrounding blacks in tennis. This book will provide much needed insight into the matter of race in tennis and illustrates that while there has been much progress in that area, especially given the professional and social presence of Serena Williams, there is still much work to do to address the inequalities still in existence.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Harris not only writes about the two sisters and their careers, but also educates readers about the larger struggle African-Americans have faced in tennis. Starting with Althea Gibson, the woman credited with breaking the color barrier in the sport, Harris writes with knowledge and passion about her, the Williams sisters, Arthur Ashe, Sloane Stephens and many other black players who have achieved greatness. While the Williams sisters, Gibson and Ashe have the most pages written about them, Harris touches on many different players. He also writes not only about their achievements on the court, but their achievements and struggles off the court as well. A particularly well written piece was about the unprovoked attack by police on former player James Blake in a case of mistaken identity.
Another aspect of the book that is very important to Harris’ message is that he not only writes about players gaining in acceptance and accomplishments, but also the struggles and inequality suffered by African-Americans wishing to seek jobs in the sport in areas such as coaching or umpiring. The inequality in the latter profession, especially in terms of assignments for major tournaments and in moving up in rankings. Umpires are provided a colored card based on experience and merit, ranging from white to gold, with the latter receiving the highest salaries and best assignments.
The writing clearly shows that Harris is not only knowledgeable about the sport, but that he is passionate about both the game and the issues surrounding blacks in tennis. This book will provide much needed insight into the matter of race in tennis and illustrates that while there has been much progress in that area, especially given the professional and social presence of Serena Williams, there is still much work to do to address the inequalities still in existence.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
July 30, 2020
As William Sister stans we were extremely excited to dive into this book and learn all about Venus + Serena's rise to G.O.A.T status. Though the book was interesting and provided a lot of information there were some problems with connecting the chapters to have an overall thesis or point. Also, marketed as a book about Serena, Venus, and the Unfinished Black Tennis Revolution, we quickly realized that this book was more about the Unfinished Black Tennis Revolution with small highlights about Venus and Serena. We feel that the author should have lost the Serena + Venus plugs in the title and turned into a book of a collection of articles or essays.
Collectively we found the chapters talking about Althea Gibson, Arthur Ashe, the ATA, and the racism experienced at almost every level within the USTA the most interesting. Even though the financial chapters about the US Open and finances throughout the USTA also caught our attention we felt that it didn't fit cohesively with the rest of the book.
For a tennis or sports fan, it was easier to continue to read and find the gems within the book to keep your attention, but if you were not a fan of tennis than this book could be dull and hard to get through.
In B3 tradition on a scale of 1 - throw the whole book away to 2020 was a bad dream and we were all in some nationwide inception type sleep this book gets a 3 - the book was ok, but it is not going on the shelf.
Follow the Books, Bubbles + Banter goodreads group to #jointheconversation and read along with us!
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Collectively we found the chapters talking about Althea Gibson, Arthur Ashe, the ATA, and the racism experienced at almost every level within the USTA the most interesting. Even though the financial chapters about the US Open and finances throughout the USTA also caught our attention we felt that it didn't fit cohesively with the rest of the book.
For a tennis or sports fan, it was easier to continue to read and find the gems within the book to keep your attention, but if you were not a fan of tennis than this book could be dull and hard to get through.
In B3 tradition on a scale of 1 - throw the whole book away to 2020 was a bad dream and we were all in some nationwide inception type sleep this book gets a 3 - the book was ok, but it is not going on the shelf.
Follow the Books, Bubbles + Banter goodreads group to #jointheconversation and read along with us!
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
July 17, 2020
My score is really a 3.5 - 4 but it wouldn't let me show that. I really enjoyed this book and as a Serena Stan and tennis Stan I was into it.
------------------------SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT! ------------------------------
PROS
- Serena is the G.O.A.T so I loved hearing about her demolishing people.
- Interesting to hear about Venus' fight for pay equality at Wimbledon. Way to take down the patriarchy sis.
- I was interested in learning about Althea Gibson + Arthur Ashe. Gibson is so interesting to me. She didn't want to be a pro-black player which you think would make her more marketable but they didn't pay her nor do they really honor her in the sport and she was the beginning of the pro legacy for black people.
- I loved learning about the ATA stars and champions who couldn't play at an international or competitive level due to Jim Crow, segregation, etc.
- Learning about how Althea wasn't allowed to get dressed in locker rooms for tournaments she rightfully earned a spot to play in made me so upset. To deal with the pressures of the game along with the pressures of Jim Crow and segregation (at an international level) is crazy! I will never know why darker-skinned people are treated so badly.
- I enjoyed learning about the racial injustices and capitalism that seeps into everything America does including tennis. The USTA should be ashamed of themselves for their practices. The US Open is a billion dollar a year industry, bringing more money to the state of NY then all the other sporting teams combined (and we know that NY has 2 of every sporting team except hockey, smh). How in the hell are they considered a non-profit?
- It pissed me off how they used Katrina Adams as pretty much a figurehead so they won't seem racist while paying her the least amount of money. How does the Executive Director or whatever TF his title is make over a million a year and Katrina making a little over 40,000 per year? It's crazy to see the systemic racism at every level for this sport. From the players to the umpires to the coaches to the executive staff
- It was an interesting argument of why Black Males aren't really in the tennis world. Not the bullshit that men want to play more sports because (I played 3 sports while in high school, so I am woman hear me roar), but because black guys see other blk males succeed with much quicker and higher pay turnarounds in other sports than tennis. Also, it's a more guaranteed check (even if you're riding the bench). I thought that was interesting also it's not a pro to me but the conversation centered around the perception of male tennis in black culture. I never heard this before but people saying that tennis is a sissy sport etc. if anyone has watched Federer, Djokovic, or Nadal play you know it's not a sissy sport. It's about power, stamina, and endurance.
CONS
- Because our author is such a Serena stan it pours into his writing. He's not able to write from an unbiased point of view and the praise for Venus was subpar.
- I would have liked a little bit of tennis history not only through the lens of black people but through the lens of it always being for the wealthy and elite. Tennis was an aristocratic sport, played by Kings, Princes, and their royal court. People of nobility didn't always even get to play but spectate. I would have liked a little bit more into why this is such a rich sport.
- Besides the notable players, I have to be real and say I wasn't interested in their story. When James Blake's white wife asked, "What if it was me [slammed to the ground by an undercover cop because I fit the "description" of someone wanted] and that made me want to live a life of activism, the eye roll was soooo strong. To be fair when we got to the chapter about the female contemporary players and Sloane and Osaka I was super interested. Black Girl Magic is making its way on a tennis court by you isn't the same for black males.
- All in all, I really liked the book. It made me want to watch reels and playbacks and get to the court. It's definitely going on the shelf and I'm not mad that I bought it which is a huge plus.
------------------------SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT! ------------------------------
PROS
- Serena is the G.O.A.T so I loved hearing about her demolishing people.
- Interesting to hear about Venus' fight for pay equality at Wimbledon. Way to take down the patriarchy sis.
- I was interested in learning about Althea Gibson + Arthur Ashe. Gibson is so interesting to me. She didn't want to be a pro-black player which you think would make her more marketable but they didn't pay her nor do they really honor her in the sport and she was the beginning of the pro legacy for black people.
- I loved learning about the ATA stars and champions who couldn't play at an international or competitive level due to Jim Crow, segregation, etc.
- Learning about how Althea wasn't allowed to get dressed in locker rooms for tournaments she rightfully earned a spot to play in made me so upset. To deal with the pressures of the game along with the pressures of Jim Crow and segregation (at an international level) is crazy! I will never know why darker-skinned people are treated so badly.
- I enjoyed learning about the racial injustices and capitalism that seeps into everything America does including tennis. The USTA should be ashamed of themselves for their practices. The US Open is a billion dollar a year industry, bringing more money to the state of NY then all the other sporting teams combined (and we know that NY has 2 of every sporting team except hockey, smh). How in the hell are they considered a non-profit?
- It pissed me off how they used Katrina Adams as pretty much a figurehead so they won't seem racist while paying her the least amount of money. How does the Executive Director or whatever TF his title is make over a million a year and Katrina making a little over 40,000 per year? It's crazy to see the systemic racism at every level for this sport. From the players to the umpires to the coaches to the executive staff
- It was an interesting argument of why Black Males aren't really in the tennis world. Not the bullshit that men want to play more sports because (I played 3 sports while in high school, so I am woman hear me roar), but because black guys see other blk males succeed with much quicker and higher pay turnarounds in other sports than tennis. Also, it's a more guaranteed check (even if you're riding the bench). I thought that was interesting also it's not a pro to me but the conversation centered around the perception of male tennis in black culture. I never heard this before but people saying that tennis is a sissy sport etc. if anyone has watched Federer, Djokovic, or Nadal play you know it's not a sissy sport. It's about power, stamina, and endurance.
CONS
- Because our author is such a Serena stan it pours into his writing. He's not able to write from an unbiased point of view and the praise for Venus was subpar.
- I would have liked a little bit of tennis history not only through the lens of black people but through the lens of it always being for the wealthy and elite. Tennis was an aristocratic sport, played by Kings, Princes, and their royal court. People of nobility didn't always even get to play but spectate. I would have liked a little bit more into why this is such a rich sport.
- Besides the notable players, I have to be real and say I wasn't interested in their story. When James Blake's white wife asked, "What if it was me [slammed to the ground by an undercover cop because I fit the "description" of someone wanted] and that made me want to live a life of activism, the eye roll was soooo strong. To be fair when we got to the chapter about the female contemporary players and Sloane and Osaka I was super interested. Black Girl Magic is making its way on a tennis court by you isn't the same for black males.
- All in all, I really liked the book. It made me want to watch reels and playbacks and get to the court. It's definitely going on the shelf and I'm not mad that I bought it which is a huge plus.
October 21, 2020
Anyone who has any interest in professional tennis should recognize the names of Serena and Venus Williams. Since I pay less attention to the “who’s who” in the tennis world of today than I did years ago, it was nice to have the instant name recognition to help me focus on the issues that black players have faced over the years and still have to face now. It is also a sad reality that I recalled the names of most of the featured players because they played so many years ago. While Serena and Venus still both shine on the tennis court, men have not fared so well. MaliVai Washington’s appearance in the 1996 final at Wimbledon is the last time an African American man made it to a Grand Slam final.
Author Cecil Harris does an excellent job of filling the reader in on the difficulties these players face. Any player with aspirations of rising to the top not only must have a way to fund costly coaching but must also deal with racial discrimination. Playing on the tour is an expensive undertaking: players are responsible for their own transportation, lodging, and they often have others who travel with them. These issues are not limited to those vying for a coveted win, but carry over to others involved in the sport. Young men enjoy sports such as football and basketball – both of which pay attractive salaries to those who qualify at a professional level.
At least a basic knowledge of how tennis is played would help the reader as the author does sometimes detail specific matches. I understand tennis and could follow the play by play, but watching a match is far more satisfying than reading about it, so admit that I read those portions rather quickly. The personalities, struggles, and accomplishments of these players, both on and off the court, are what interested me.
Mr. Harris has provided the reader with an insightful look into the issues faced by a black person hoping to make it a in this competitive sport.
Thank you to the University of Nebraska Press for providing my copy of this book via the LibraryThing.com Early Reviewers.
Author Cecil Harris does an excellent job of filling the reader in on the difficulties these players face. Any player with aspirations of rising to the top not only must have a way to fund costly coaching but must also deal with racial discrimination. Playing on the tour is an expensive undertaking: players are responsible for their own transportation, lodging, and they often have others who travel with them. These issues are not limited to those vying for a coveted win, but carry over to others involved in the sport. Young men enjoy sports such as football and basketball – both of which pay attractive salaries to those who qualify at a professional level.
At least a basic knowledge of how tennis is played would help the reader as the author does sometimes detail specific matches. I understand tennis and could follow the play by play, but watching a match is far more satisfying than reading about it, so admit that I read those portions rather quickly. The personalities, struggles, and accomplishments of these players, both on and off the court, are what interested me.
Mr. Harris has provided the reader with an insightful look into the issues faced by a black person hoping to make it a in this competitive sport.
Thank you to the University of Nebraska Press for providing my copy of this book via the LibraryThing.com Early Reviewers.
August 8, 2020
3.5-4.0 stars (Rating shown may differ depending on whether site allows half star ratings).
I won this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's Program, and I was excited because I used to love playing tennis and have fond memories of playing with a friend while we were in college. But the book took so long to get here, I wondered if I'd receive it at all--especially since the one I won the next month actually arrived before this one! I suspect COVID-19 may have had something to do with the length of time it took to arrive.
The book starts with The Williams Sisters (Venus & Serena) and uses that to springboard into other areas of tennis including coaching and umpires. I remember seeing Ashe play on TV and though I've heard of Gibson, I've not seen her often in photos or video. It was interesting reading about other players that I've seen play and a few that I haven't.
I did realize the pay discrepancy between men's tennis and women's tennis existed and that it had been changed, but I didn't realize Venus Williams's role in that until reading this book. I also didn't know about the dearth of African-American coaches and umpires/linespeople until reading this book.
I won this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's Program, and I was excited because I used to love playing tennis and have fond memories of playing with a friend while we were in college. But the book took so long to get here, I wondered if I'd receive it at all--especially since the one I won the next month actually arrived before this one! I suspect COVID-19 may have had something to do with the length of time it took to arrive.
The book starts with The Williams Sisters (Venus & Serena) and uses that to springboard into other areas of tennis including coaching and umpires. I remember seeing Ashe play on TV and though I've heard of Gibson, I've not seen her often in photos or video. It was interesting reading about other players that I've seen play and a few that I haven't.
I did realize the pay discrepancy between men's tennis and women's tennis existed and that it had been changed, but I didn't realize Venus Williams's role in that until reading this book. I also didn't know about the dearth of African-American coaches and umpires/linespeople until reading this book.
August 28, 2020
Cecil Harris writes a compelling book that portrays the 'Black Tennis Revolution', and convinces the audience why it is an ongoing battle in the tennis world.
As someone who knew virtually nothing about tennis or the history of the sport, I was very interested when I received this book. Like most people I knew of Serena and Venus Williams; however, that may be all I knew about famous tennis figures. This book was short but concise in showing me several prominent black figures in American tennis in the last several decades. Because of the length of the book I did not learn a complete history of any of these figures, rather I got a preview or snippet of these figures' lives and influences in the tennis arena - which I enjoyed as an introduction into the world of tennis, particularly learning about these overshadowed black figures.
Overall, I enjoyed this book; while I found myself skimming at points, it was still quite readable, and I thought it had some important insights into the world of tennis and why the unfinished black tennis revolution is more important than ever.
I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
As someone who knew virtually nothing about tennis or the history of the sport, I was very interested when I received this book. Like most people I knew of Serena and Venus Williams; however, that may be all I knew about famous tennis figures. This book was short but concise in showing me several prominent black figures in American tennis in the last several decades. Because of the length of the book I did not learn a complete history of any of these figures, rather I got a preview or snippet of these figures' lives and influences in the tennis arena - which I enjoyed as an introduction into the world of tennis, particularly learning about these overshadowed black figures.
Overall, I enjoyed this book; while I found myself skimming at points, it was still quite readable, and I thought it had some important insights into the world of tennis and why the unfinished black tennis revolution is more important than ever.
I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
March 21, 2022
This was a DNF for me, which normally I would rate lower but really there was nothing wrong with this book, except it isn't really one of my favorite genres - biography.
I did enjoy some of this book about the Williams sisters and their history. My heart went out to them at times, and I do think it was well done.
I am giving this book to my sister, who was also my own high school tennis partner. I suspect she will enjoy it more than I did.
I tried twice to get into this book and finish it, but I fizzled out both times. Who knows? If my sister finishes it, I might try again. I feel like it really is a worthwhile read. It's kind of funny that the word "unfinished" is in the title and I am leaving it unfinished.
I did enjoy some of this book about the Williams sisters and their history. My heart went out to them at times, and I do think it was well done.
I am giving this book to my sister, who was also my own high school tennis partner. I suspect she will enjoy it more than I did.
I tried twice to get into this book and finish it, but I fizzled out both times. Who knows? If my sister finishes it, I might try again. I feel like it really is a worthwhile read. It's kind of funny that the word "unfinished" is in the title and I am leaving it unfinished.
May 16, 2021
This book ended up being a skimmer for me. As other reviewers have noted, it’s more a textbook history lesson than stories of the Williams sisters. Important information but not really what I was hoping for, given the title. Book provided by LibraryThing .
October 18, 2025
Repetitive in parts. Almost felt like he had a word quota.
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