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Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson
In 1950, three years after Jackie Robinson first walked onto the diamond at Ebbets Field, the all-white, upper-crust US Lawn Tennis Association opened its door just a crack to receive a powerhouse player who would integrate "the game of royalty." The player was a street-savvy young Black woman from Harlem named Althea Gibson who was about as out-of-place in that rarefied and intolerant world as any aspiring tennis champion could be. Her tattered jeans and short-cropped hair drew stares from everyone who watched her play, but her astonishing performance on the court soon eclipsed the negative feelings being cast her way as she eventually became one of the greatest American tennis champions.
Gibson had a stunning career. Raised in New York and trained by a pair of tennis-playing doctors in the South, Gibson’s immense talent on the court opened the door for her to compete around the world . She won top prizes at Wimbledon and Forest Hills time and time again. The young woman underestimated by so many wound up shaking hands with Queen Elizabeth II, being driven up Broadway in a snowstorm of ticker tape, and ultimately became the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated and the second to appear on the cover of Time . In a crowning achievement, Althea Gibson became the No. One ranked female tennis player in the world for both 1957 and 1958. Seven years later she broke the color barrier again where she became the first Black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
In Althea, prize-winning former Boston Globe reporter Sally H. Jacobs tells the heart-rending story of this pioneer, a remarkable woman who was a trailblazer, a champion, and one of the most remarkable Americans of the twentieth century.
Gibson had a stunning career. Raised in New York and trained by a pair of tennis-playing doctors in the South, Gibson’s immense talent on the court opened the door for her to compete around the world . She won top prizes at Wimbledon and Forest Hills time and time again. The young woman underestimated by so many wound up shaking hands with Queen Elizabeth II, being driven up Broadway in a snowstorm of ticker tape, and ultimately became the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated and the second to appear on the cover of Time . In a crowning achievement, Althea Gibson became the No. One ranked female tennis player in the world for both 1957 and 1958. Seven years later she broke the color barrier again where she became the first Black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
In Althea, prize-winning former Boston Globe reporter Sally H. Jacobs tells the heart-rending story of this pioneer, a remarkable woman who was a trailblazer, a champion, and one of the most remarkable Americans of the twentieth century.
464 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2023
45 people are currently reading
3997 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
dnf
May 21, 2024I wanted to like this one- but at 20% I'm throwing in the towel. I don't read many sports bios- and I'd never, I hate to admit, heard of Althea... But her story intrigued me. Evidently, Althea wrote a memoir, and the author quotes heavily from it here- which makes me think I might do just as well to hear all this from Althea. The history, while interesting to a point, goes on too long, is very dry reading, and made it hard for me to stay focused. With a monumental TBR list to conquer, I need to put this one aside for now. No rating.
February 16, 2024
Stronger on the personal side of Althea's life than it was on the tennis, this new biography of the underappreciated champ is nevertheless compelling.
June 11, 2023
Before Venus and Serena Williams, before Zina Garrison, before Arthur Ashe, there was Althea Gibson, a pioneer for African Americans in the world of tennis. In her book, Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson, Sally H. Jacobs chronicles the life and times of this phenomenal athlete who rose from the streets of Harlem to become a Grand Slam and Wimbledon champion. She also played the saxophone and had dreams of a singing career. In fact, Ed Sullivan loved her, and she appeared on his show. She even made a recording, which had lackluster success. https://youtu.be/tAKa6mV84p0
The author goes into great detail about Althea’s upbringing. Her father trained her to box, but he also beat her mercilessly, and Althea frequently spent hours away from home, riding the train or holing up in stairwells just to avoid going home, where she knew another beating awaited her. She was a tall, lanky girl with a deep voice, and frequent reference is made to her boyish appearance. She was often mistaken for male, and her sexuality was frequently questioned.
Althea’s interest in tennis began by playing paddle tennis in the streets. This gave rise to tennis, where she was a diamond in the rough. In fact, this was the story of much of her career. Many saw potential in her athleticism, her power, her drive, and she was mentored and coached by several well-meaning, caring individuals. Always, she was the only woman of color in tennis circles. Despite pressure from the “Negro” community and the press, Althea refused to be a spokesperson for her race. She was her own person, which many saw as selfish, but she’d had to struggle a lot to get as far as she had, and she always claimed that there was no discrimination in tennis. In reading the accounts of what she went through, I had to think she went through it with blinders on; otherwise, how could she have coped?
If you’re a tennis fanatic, you may very well love this book because the author documents many of Althea’s matches during her career, including pre-college, Florida A&M, and of course, her Forest Hills and other Grand Slam tourneys, not to mention Wimbledon. In my opinion, much of this could have been omitted, as the plot is much the same in that Althea’s manner of play repeats itself over and over. It felt tedious. The potential was there, but…
I found myself wondering, too, if I had met this person in those days, would I have liked her? She was very self-involved, brusque, unsportsmanlike, at least on the court. In her later years, however, she seemed to have mellowed quite a bit.
As fantastic a player as Althea Gibson was, it took her years to have success. Because of the time period in which she played, she received very little financial compensation. When her tennis days were over, she turned to golf and played several years in the LPGA. Again, there was little money in it, and there were even fewer Blacks in this White person’s world, but she had much more support among her fellow golfers.
Her personal life was sad, too. She had love interests who proved to be lifelong friends, even after divorce. But she had very little money to live on, and when her health declined, she became despondent. I found the end of the book to be quite sad, and I wished that she had had a better life. However, I think she was proud that she was an inspiration to women like the Williams sisters and Zina Garrison, and she had Angela Buxton for a tennis partner and friend; in later years, Billie Jean King became a friend too. While I enjoyed learning about this great player, whom I’d often heard of, I felt overwhelmed by the plethora of detail of her tennis matches.
I received a digital copy of Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author.
3.5 stars
The author goes into great detail about Althea’s upbringing. Her father trained her to box, but he also beat her mercilessly, and Althea frequently spent hours away from home, riding the train or holing up in stairwells just to avoid going home, where she knew another beating awaited her. She was a tall, lanky girl with a deep voice, and frequent reference is made to her boyish appearance. She was often mistaken for male, and her sexuality was frequently questioned.
Althea’s interest in tennis began by playing paddle tennis in the streets. This gave rise to tennis, where she was a diamond in the rough. In fact, this was the story of much of her career. Many saw potential in her athleticism, her power, her drive, and she was mentored and coached by several well-meaning, caring individuals. Always, she was the only woman of color in tennis circles. Despite pressure from the “Negro” community and the press, Althea refused to be a spokesperson for her race. She was her own person, which many saw as selfish, but she’d had to struggle a lot to get as far as she had, and she always claimed that there was no discrimination in tennis. In reading the accounts of what she went through, I had to think she went through it with blinders on; otherwise, how could she have coped?
If you’re a tennis fanatic, you may very well love this book because the author documents many of Althea’s matches during her career, including pre-college, Florida A&M, and of course, her Forest Hills and other Grand Slam tourneys, not to mention Wimbledon. In my opinion, much of this could have been omitted, as the plot is much the same in that Althea’s manner of play repeats itself over and over. It felt tedious. The potential was there, but…
I found myself wondering, too, if I had met this person in those days, would I have liked her? She was very self-involved, brusque, unsportsmanlike, at least on the court. In her later years, however, she seemed to have mellowed quite a bit.
As fantastic a player as Althea Gibson was, it took her years to have success. Because of the time period in which she played, she received very little financial compensation. When her tennis days were over, she turned to golf and played several years in the LPGA. Again, there was little money in it, and there were even fewer Blacks in this White person’s world, but she had much more support among her fellow golfers.
Her personal life was sad, too. She had love interests who proved to be lifelong friends, even after divorce. But she had very little money to live on, and when her health declined, she became despondent. I found the end of the book to be quite sad, and I wished that she had had a better life. However, I think she was proud that she was an inspiration to women like the Williams sisters and Zina Garrison, and she had Angela Buxton for a tennis partner and friend; in later years, Billie Jean King became a friend too. While I enjoyed learning about this great player, whom I’d often heard of, I felt overwhelmed by the plethora of detail of her tennis matches.
I received a digital copy of Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author.
3.5 stars
September 1, 2023
I am especially pleased to have this book in my hand during the 2023 U S Open held in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing NY.
Even though Althea Gibson was THE pioneer Black tennis player for some reason she is a largely forgotten athlete.
Althea’s accomplishments were doubly meaningful due to the time in which she lived (1927-2003). All the hoopla made about the Williams sisters would make the casual observer think they were the first African American tennis champions. The Williams sisters are brilliant athletes and deserve all the praise but they were not the first.
ALTHEA GIBSON WAS THE BONA FIDE FIRST!
“Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson” is 464 pages and does not come close to making the reader feel a personal connection to Althea. Can there be too much historical background in a biography? The answer is yes. This book does not feel like a biography. It feels like a history lesson.
In 1922 I read a book called “Born to Win, The Authorized Biography of Althea Gibson” by Frances Clayton Gray & Yanick Rice Lamb published in 2004. It told Althea’s story showcasing her accomplishments in a concise manner with a more personal touch in 256 pages that felt like it was Althea’s story and not a history lesson.
I am giving 3-stars here simply because I applaud anyone who brings Althea Gibson’s name into the limelight.
For anyone interested in learning about this Black 5-time Grand Slam tennis champion with 2 US Open titles, ranked #1 in the world in 1957 who paved the way for other Black female athletes I recommend “Born to Win, The Authorized Biography of Althea Gibson”. I humbly refer you to my review of that book on GR.
Thank you.
Even though Althea Gibson was THE pioneer Black tennis player for some reason she is a largely forgotten athlete.
Althea’s accomplishments were doubly meaningful due to the time in which she lived (1927-2003). All the hoopla made about the Williams sisters would make the casual observer think they were the first African American tennis champions. The Williams sisters are brilliant athletes and deserve all the praise but they were not the first.
ALTHEA GIBSON WAS THE BONA FIDE FIRST!
“Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson” is 464 pages and does not come close to making the reader feel a personal connection to Althea. Can there be too much historical background in a biography? The answer is yes. This book does not feel like a biography. It feels like a history lesson.
In 1922 I read a book called “Born to Win, The Authorized Biography of Althea Gibson” by Frances Clayton Gray & Yanick Rice Lamb published in 2004. It told Althea’s story showcasing her accomplishments in a concise manner with a more personal touch in 256 pages that felt like it was Althea’s story and not a history lesson.
I am giving 3-stars here simply because I applaud anyone who brings Althea Gibson’s name into the limelight.
For anyone interested in learning about this Black 5-time Grand Slam tennis champion with 2 US Open titles, ranked #1 in the world in 1957 who paved the way for other Black female athletes I recommend “Born to Win, The Authorized Biography of Althea Gibson”. I humbly refer you to my review of that book on GR.
Thank you.
August 15, 2023
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Gets dry and repetitive after a bit, but ultimately a fascinating biography!
Full Review:
I have never read about Althea Gibson before. Of course I know who she was, but I didn't know the ins and outs of her life. Jacobs does a great job with showing us the broad strokes of Althea's life, tennis career, golf career, and when her life started to spiral downwards after she was left jobless with no close friends or family nearby in New York.
I do think at times Jacobs held back way too much of herself in the writing. You don't really get a sense if she thinks that Althea was wrong in some cases or was in the right (thinking through how she handled the Black press as an example). And later on in Althea's life it does appear she had some people taking advantage of her, but once again it seems Jacobs wanted to soften things to not come across as "accusatory" maybe?
And I will say, the book starts to read very repetitive after a while. We get it, Althea did not want to be known as the Jackie Robinson of tennis. She didn't like the press. I really wish that we had gotten a better sense of the people that knew her. We get comments here and there from some people and I wish that Jacobs had provided even more details from them.
In the end I was left with even more questions about Althea.
Gets dry and repetitive after a bit, but ultimately a fascinating biography!
Full Review:
I have never read about Althea Gibson before. Of course I know who she was, but I didn't know the ins and outs of her life. Jacobs does a great job with showing us the broad strokes of Althea's life, tennis career, golf career, and when her life started to spiral downwards after she was left jobless with no close friends or family nearby in New York.
I do think at times Jacobs held back way too much of herself in the writing. You don't really get a sense if she thinks that Althea was wrong in some cases or was in the right (thinking through how she handled the Black press as an example). And later on in Althea's life it does appear she had some people taking advantage of her, but once again it seems Jacobs wanted to soften things to not come across as "accusatory" maybe?
And I will say, the book starts to read very repetitive after a while. We get it, Althea did not want to be known as the Jackie Robinson of tennis. She didn't like the press. I really wish that we had gotten a better sense of the people that knew her. We get comments here and there from some people and I wish that Jacobs had provided even more details from them.
In the end I was left with even more questions about Althea.
September 12, 2023
An in-depth look at one of the great female athletes of the 20th Century who has long been overlooked.
How is it possible that a young woman from an impoverished African American family in Harlem overcame seemingly insurmountable odds during the 1950’s to become not just a great tennis player but a champion time and again at Wimbledon and what is now known as the US Open? She became the first black woman to achieve these and other successes, and yet her name is not often recognized outside of the tennis world. This biography by former Boston Globe reporter Sally H. Jacobs takes a thorough look at who Althea Gibson was; where and how she grew up, how she rose to such heights in a sport dominated by wealthy white people, what obstacles she faced, who helped and who didn’t, and what happened when she stopped playing the game.
While I would not consider myself a tennis aficionado, I certainly remember many of the champions (both male and female) who have succeeded in the sport in my lifetime. From Billie Jean King and Chris Everett through Venus and Serena Williams, with Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe (oh, those tantrums!), Boris Becker, right up to Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, there have been so many tennis greats who have crossed the line into celebrity. So too did Althea Gibson in her day, but as I discovered through reading this book it was a very different time for tennis and those who played the game. To participate in those tournaments, an athlete had to remain an amateur in status, and therefore was not making large sums of money from appearances and endorsements. As many of the players came from a financially secure background, this was not a huge problem for them, but for someone like Althea the worry of having money for meals and hotel rooms was every bit the concern that playing well was. Jackie Robinson had just broken through barriers in the world of baseball, but Althea faced discrimination and dismissal not only for being Black but for being a woman. Many of the women tennis players of her time were beautiful and feminine, gracious and graceful in their feminine white outfits. Althea was different, very aggressive and athletic in her play, driven to win, not prone to schmoozing the press or ingratiating herself within the tennis world. Her talent could not be denied, but she did not reap the same post-career benefits of the more traditional (and white) tennis players of her generation….no cushy board position at a sporting goods company like Wilson, or offers of writing a sports column for a magazine came her way. Was it because she was a woman? Not entirely, as other women did indeed net such deals. Was it her color? Certainly that was likely a factor. Was it her reserved, often prickly or blunt personality? Again, almost certainly that played into it too. But it meant that this incredibly successful and talented athlete struggled throughout her life for financial security, and towards the end of her life she was living in highly impoverished circumstances. She was a flawed person, and made her share of poor decisions, but she deserved better than what she got. The color of her skin, at a time when race relations were so bad that the US government organized tours of successful Black athletes to show the world that things weren’t as bad in the US as they seemed, was one of the biggest obstacles that Althea needed to conquer, and time and time again she did just that. It is not hard to believe that she was a hero to icons Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean KIng as well as Serena and Venus Williams. Hopefully this biography will start a dialogue that will lead to Althea Gibson getting the recognition today that she so richly deserves, in ways large and small.
You don’t need to love tennis to enjoy this book, though that wouldn’t hurt; you should be prepared to read about some ugly bits of our country’s history while also applauding those who helped to usher in acceptance of all. And be ready to meet a rough, funny, guarded, misunderstood woman who achieved so very much, and the people who helped her, loved her, and lived long enough to tell her story to a generation that had mostly forgotten about her. Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of this well-researched biography of an amazing woman.
How is it possible that a young woman from an impoverished African American family in Harlem overcame seemingly insurmountable odds during the 1950’s to become not just a great tennis player but a champion time and again at Wimbledon and what is now known as the US Open? She became the first black woman to achieve these and other successes, and yet her name is not often recognized outside of the tennis world. This biography by former Boston Globe reporter Sally H. Jacobs takes a thorough look at who Althea Gibson was; where and how she grew up, how she rose to such heights in a sport dominated by wealthy white people, what obstacles she faced, who helped and who didn’t, and what happened when she stopped playing the game.
While I would not consider myself a tennis aficionado, I certainly remember many of the champions (both male and female) who have succeeded in the sport in my lifetime. From Billie Jean King and Chris Everett through Venus and Serena Williams, with Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe (oh, those tantrums!), Boris Becker, right up to Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, there have been so many tennis greats who have crossed the line into celebrity. So too did Althea Gibson in her day, but as I discovered through reading this book it was a very different time for tennis and those who played the game. To participate in those tournaments, an athlete had to remain an amateur in status, and therefore was not making large sums of money from appearances and endorsements. As many of the players came from a financially secure background, this was not a huge problem for them, but for someone like Althea the worry of having money for meals and hotel rooms was every bit the concern that playing well was. Jackie Robinson had just broken through barriers in the world of baseball, but Althea faced discrimination and dismissal not only for being Black but for being a woman. Many of the women tennis players of her time were beautiful and feminine, gracious and graceful in their feminine white outfits. Althea was different, very aggressive and athletic in her play, driven to win, not prone to schmoozing the press or ingratiating herself within the tennis world. Her talent could not be denied, but she did not reap the same post-career benefits of the more traditional (and white) tennis players of her generation….no cushy board position at a sporting goods company like Wilson, or offers of writing a sports column for a magazine came her way. Was it because she was a woman? Not entirely, as other women did indeed net such deals. Was it her color? Certainly that was likely a factor. Was it her reserved, often prickly or blunt personality? Again, almost certainly that played into it too. But it meant that this incredibly successful and talented athlete struggled throughout her life for financial security, and towards the end of her life she was living in highly impoverished circumstances. She was a flawed person, and made her share of poor decisions, but she deserved better than what she got. The color of her skin, at a time when race relations were so bad that the US government organized tours of successful Black athletes to show the world that things weren’t as bad in the US as they seemed, was one of the biggest obstacles that Althea needed to conquer, and time and time again she did just that. It is not hard to believe that she was a hero to icons Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean KIng as well as Serena and Venus Williams. Hopefully this biography will start a dialogue that will lead to Althea Gibson getting the recognition today that she so richly deserves, in ways large and small.
You don’t need to love tennis to enjoy this book, though that wouldn’t hurt; you should be prepared to read about some ugly bits of our country’s history while also applauding those who helped to usher in acceptance of all. And be ready to meet a rough, funny, guarded, misunderstood woman who achieved so very much, and the people who helped her, loved her, and lived long enough to tell her story to a generation that had mostly forgotten about her. Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of this well-researched biography of an amazing woman.
August 10, 2023
What. A. Life.
I cannot believe I’d never heard of Althea Gibson until now. I love tennis and followed avidly the careers of Venus and Serena Williams, but I never knew their forerunner was a Harlem champion of paddle tennis before being discovered by people who saw her athleticism and took pains to teach her the sport.
This book was so well researched and thorough and it taught me so much - more than getting to learn about a tennis legend, I learned about the tumultuous times she lived and grew up under. She was so fierce and so admirable— but the author didn’t polish over her less than stellar traits, she presented her in this book as fully human with all her beauty and flaws and the result was that it made her even more relatable and heroic. I cannot even imagine how it must feel to be silenced on the world stage about your lived experience as a Black woman living in a racially charged country and participating in a racially charged sport.
I loved how Sally Jacobs gave insight not only into Althea’s life but also shed light on the state of global affairs and made the effort to anchor Althea’s timeline into what was actually going on in the United States at the time of her rise to notoriety. She also she’d light on the inner world of tennis amateurs and pros - it was really cool to see how they all knew each other and befriended one another even as they fought tooth and nail to beat each other on the court.
Again, I really appreciated how human she was- when tennis was not working for her to make a living wage, she moved into singing and golf- what a talented woman Althea Gibson was. It’s so sad to think her relatively unknown in the world today when she was such a powerful force of life. If you enjoy tennis, this is an excellent read, shedding light not only on the sport but on the challenges of living as a world famous Black American in the Jim Crowe era of the United States.
I’d like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I cannot believe I’d never heard of Althea Gibson until now. I love tennis and followed avidly the careers of Venus and Serena Williams, but I never knew their forerunner was a Harlem champion of paddle tennis before being discovered by people who saw her athleticism and took pains to teach her the sport.
This book was so well researched and thorough and it taught me so much - more than getting to learn about a tennis legend, I learned about the tumultuous times she lived and grew up under. She was so fierce and so admirable— but the author didn’t polish over her less than stellar traits, she presented her in this book as fully human with all her beauty and flaws and the result was that it made her even more relatable and heroic. I cannot even imagine how it must feel to be silenced on the world stage about your lived experience as a Black woman living in a racially charged country and participating in a racially charged sport.
I loved how Sally Jacobs gave insight not only into Althea’s life but also shed light on the state of global affairs and made the effort to anchor Althea’s timeline into what was actually going on in the United States at the time of her rise to notoriety. She also she’d light on the inner world of tennis amateurs and pros - it was really cool to see how they all knew each other and befriended one another even as they fought tooth and nail to beat each other on the court.
Again, I really appreciated how human she was- when tennis was not working for her to make a living wage, she moved into singing and golf- what a talented woman Althea Gibson was. It’s so sad to think her relatively unknown in the world today when she was such a powerful force of life. If you enjoy tennis, this is an excellent read, shedding light not only on the sport but on the challenges of living as a world famous Black American in the Jim Crowe era of the United States.
I’d like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 4, 2024
This book was a detailed and extensive account of Althea's life, and I greatly enjoyed it...albeit the fact that because it's a heavy, detailed book, it could have taken me so longer to read that I ended up skimming some just so I could finish.
July 28, 2023
This brilliant bio of Althea Gibson, #1 ranked female tennis player in the world in 1957 and 1958, and the first Black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association, captures in fierce prose the many obstacles Gibson overcame throughout life to reach tennis' pinnacle. A must-read masterpiece by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Sally H. Jacobs, both inspiring and heartbreaking.
September 5, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for accepting my request to audibly read and review Althea The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson.
Narrated by Chanté McCormick
Overall this was a low three star experience. The line between two and three stars was significant with the narration tipping the scale over. Chanté McCormick had the perfect matter of fact voice.
This read like a documentary of black history with Althea sprinkled in.
I picked this story up to learn about Althea Gibson, all her firsts, her trials, and her thoughts. There could have been a story without all the name dropping. Sadly, the ending would be the same either way. Too many people, specifically athletes, are lost in the crowd once their usefulness wears off. It was heartening to see those who never gave up calling Althea knowing she probably wouldn't answer.
This was too dry and encyclopedic for my tastes.
Narrated by Chanté McCormick
Overall this was a low three star experience. The line between two and three stars was significant with the narration tipping the scale over. Chanté McCormick had the perfect matter of fact voice.
This read like a documentary of black history with Althea sprinkled in.
I picked this story up to learn about Althea Gibson, all her firsts, her trials, and her thoughts. There could have been a story without all the name dropping. Sadly, the ending would be the same either way. Too many people, specifically athletes, are lost in the crowd once their usefulness wears off. It was heartening to see those who never gave up calling Althea knowing she probably wouldn't answer.
This was too dry and encyclopedic for my tastes.
May 25, 2024
Overall, this is a decent book. Very detailed and well researched, Sally Jacobs’ portrayal of Althea Gibson goes beyond her tennis and golf achievements and fully explains her part of helping Blacks achieve more equality in both the world and in sports. However, at times the details get too thick and it was a difficult book for concentration. I did switch back and forth between the ebook and the audio version to see which one would allow me to concentrate better, but neither version worked. I feel bad that I couldn’t finish this but I just couldn’t keep up with all the minute details.
I wish to thank the publisher for offering a review copy. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
I wish to thank the publisher for offering a review copy. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
July 27, 2023
4 stars
I have been recommending this book to all my friends! I knew little about tennis, golf, or Althea Gibson before starting to read this biography, but I enjoyed every page! Althea is an amazing woman & this book is well researched & written.
[What I liked:]
•I didn’t know much about Althea before picking up this book, but she is incredible! Besides all of her very impressive athletic achievements, I especially admire that she was unafraid to be herself, despite the unrelenting racism she faced & even under pressure from all sides to conform and be more feminine, etc. She has a truly interesting life story & I wish I knew about her sooner.
•I learned a lot about the civil rights movement, the history of tennis as a sport, and the racial integration of sports in the US. This is a very well researched book & I appreciate all of the work the biographer did to help contextualize Althea’s life & story.
•Even though this is a long book I never got bored reading it. It’s very engaging & well written. I kind of didn’t put it down for two days!
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Honestly, there’s nothing I disliked about this book!
CW: racism, sexism, homophobia, child abuse, substance abuse, infidelity
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
I have been recommending this book to all my friends! I knew little about tennis, golf, or Althea Gibson before starting to read this biography, but I enjoyed every page! Althea is an amazing woman & this book is well researched & written.
[What I liked:]
•I didn’t know much about Althea before picking up this book, but she is incredible! Besides all of her very impressive athletic achievements, I especially admire that she was unafraid to be herself, despite the unrelenting racism she faced & even under pressure from all sides to conform and be more feminine, etc. She has a truly interesting life story & I wish I knew about her sooner.
•I learned a lot about the civil rights movement, the history of tennis as a sport, and the racial integration of sports in the US. This is a very well researched book & I appreciate all of the work the biographer did to help contextualize Althea’s life & story.
•Even though this is a long book I never got bored reading it. It’s very engaging & well written. I kind of didn’t put it down for two days!
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Honestly, there’s nothing I disliked about this book!
CW: racism, sexism, homophobia, child abuse, substance abuse, infidelity
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
August 31, 2023
I am so glad this book crossed my path. Sometime in the last 3 years I became aware of Althea and have become more and more curious about her. This book is exactly what I was looking for. A full biography of one of the most important tennis players to ever enter the sport, and yet so few people are aware of her.
She was #1 ranked female tennis player in the world for both 1957 and 1958, the first African American to win a Grand Slam title (the French Championships), Wimbledon and the US Nationals (precursor of the US Open). She was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in both years. In all, she won 11 Grand Slam tournaments: five singles titles, five doubles titles, and one mixed doubles title.. Seven years later she broke the color barrier again where she became the first Black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
Despite those incredible accomplishments Althea never received the recognition that other Tennis athletes have, nor the monetary compensation.
Read this book. Learn her story. Share it with others.
It's the bare minimum that Ms. Gibson deserves.
***Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
She was #1 ranked female tennis player in the world for both 1957 and 1958, the first African American to win a Grand Slam title (the French Championships), Wimbledon and the US Nationals (precursor of the US Open). She was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in both years. In all, she won 11 Grand Slam tournaments: five singles titles, five doubles titles, and one mixed doubles title.. Seven years later she broke the color barrier again where she became the first Black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
Despite those incredible accomplishments Althea never received the recognition that other Tennis athletes have, nor the monetary compensation.
Read this book. Learn her story. Share it with others.
It's the bare minimum that Ms. Gibson deserves.
***Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 16, 2024
I knew the name Althea, but not much more. Didn't know about her role in desegregating tennis. A valuable and in-depth look at her life.
May 31, 2023
Format Read: Ebook from NetGalley (releases 8/15/23)
Review: A well written and complete biography of the tennis champ. A lot of history too which was informative, but also for me a bit too much.
Recommended For: Those interesting in a tennis biography.
Review: A well written and complete biography of the tennis champ. A lot of history too which was informative, but also for me a bit too much.
Recommended For: Those interesting in a tennis biography.
June 8, 2024
3.5 stars
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August 20, 2023
Well respected and easy to follow, Sally H. Jacobs did a great job of bring Althea Gibson to life. I really enjoyed the deep dive into her background from growing up in Harlem to breaking color barriers despite wanting nothing to do with activism.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for gifting me a copy.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for gifting me a copy.
July 20, 2024
#netgalley advance Audiobook review.
Before the Williams sisters, before Arthur Ashe there was the original GOAT Althea Gibson!
This is the second biography written by author Sally H. Jacobs, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, the first was The Other Barrack. Jacobs adds to a small but rapidly growing list of books about Althea Gibson, including one autobiography initially published in 1958 and republished in 2022 with a foreword by Billie Jean King.
What makes this particular book about Althea Gibson worth reading or listening to?
First, it was well-researched over a 4 year period. The author conducted more than 150 oral history interviews and utilized primary source documents, many of which seem to be referenced for the very first time in print.
Second, the author reviews Althea’s history through a contemporary lens and growing societal understanding of institutional discrimination: racial, gender, socio-economic and sexual orientation. Never shying away from the harsher realities of her difficult childhood and detractors or overlooking her many champions, mentors, chosen family and supporters. Althea emerges as fully human, both perfect and flawed.
Third, it includes a great, modern history synopsis detailing the Harlem Renaissance which Athlea lived in the wake of. Also the histories of the sport of tennis, modern tennis associations, black tennis and its stars, the ATA Jr Development Program run by Dr J, the early days of integrating the sport, and examples of discrimination and segregation in American sports and society with a focus on the 1940s and 1950s.
Chanté McCormick, an award winning audiobook performer with training in speech and theater, has a voice that can be sincerely described as an instrument. She can choose to modulate, employ an accent (in this case southern) when needed and infuse her voice with emotion or restraint. For this audiobook she often chooses restraint with bursts of unexpected emotional force, which I feel compliments Althea. McCormick’s work is a testament that an audiobook can be, at its height, a wholistic performance that both compliments and enhances the book.
Whether you’re a long-time admirer of this legend and disruptor Althea Gibson, or a brand new fan, this book is worth your time which is nearly 19 hours in audiobook format.
I particularly enjoyed learning about her challenges abc successes in pursuit of education. Dropping out after middle school in Harlem she excelled at high school in Virginia under the tutelage of tennis coach/activist/physician Dr. Hubert Eaton and his family. She attended Florida A&M University on a full tennis scholarship.
Content Warning: child abuse and neglect, racism, sexism, homophobia, substance abuse
Before the Williams sisters, before Arthur Ashe there was the original GOAT Althea Gibson!
This is the second biography written by author Sally H. Jacobs, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, the first was The Other Barrack. Jacobs adds to a small but rapidly growing list of books about Althea Gibson, including one autobiography initially published in 1958 and republished in 2022 with a foreword by Billie Jean King.
What makes this particular book about Althea Gibson worth reading or listening to?
First, it was well-researched over a 4 year period. The author conducted more than 150 oral history interviews and utilized primary source documents, many of which seem to be referenced for the very first time in print.
Second, the author reviews Althea’s history through a contemporary lens and growing societal understanding of institutional discrimination: racial, gender, socio-economic and sexual orientation. Never shying away from the harsher realities of her difficult childhood and detractors or overlooking her many champions, mentors, chosen family and supporters. Althea emerges as fully human, both perfect and flawed.
Third, it includes a great, modern history synopsis detailing the Harlem Renaissance which Athlea lived in the wake of. Also the histories of the sport of tennis, modern tennis associations, black tennis and its stars, the ATA Jr Development Program run by Dr J, the early days of integrating the sport, and examples of discrimination and segregation in American sports and society with a focus on the 1940s and 1950s.
Chanté McCormick, an award winning audiobook performer with training in speech and theater, has a voice that can be sincerely described as an instrument. She can choose to modulate, employ an accent (in this case southern) when needed and infuse her voice with emotion or restraint. For this audiobook she often chooses restraint with bursts of unexpected emotional force, which I feel compliments Althea. McCormick’s work is a testament that an audiobook can be, at its height, a wholistic performance that both compliments and enhances the book.
Whether you’re a long-time admirer of this legend and disruptor Althea Gibson, or a brand new fan, this book is worth your time which is nearly 19 hours in audiobook format.
I particularly enjoyed learning about her challenges abc successes in pursuit of education. Dropping out after middle school in Harlem she excelled at high school in Virginia under the tutelage of tennis coach/activist/physician Dr. Hubert Eaton and his family. She attended Florida A&M University on a full tennis scholarship.
Content Warning: child abuse and neglect, racism, sexism, homophobia, substance abuse
July 30, 2023
This is my very first ARC ever and I was so excited!! This book exceeded my expectations! Before Serena and Venus Williams, there was Althea Gibson. The author took us on a journey about a phenomenal athlete from the streets of Harlem to become a Grand Slam and Wimbledon Champion. The author goes into great detail about her upbringing. Her father abused her and she would do anything she could do avoid not going home because she knew another beating would await her. She was frequently mistaken for a male and her sexuality was frequently questioned. If you are a tennis fanatic you may very well love this book. Althea was her own person which many people saw as selfish but she worked just as hard to get to where she was going. As a fantastic player, Althea Gibson took years for her to succeed. She was getting little money and when her tennis days were over she started to play golf in the LPGA. Again, there wasn’t as much money in golf but she had much more support from her fellow golfers.
I found the end to be quite sad, I wished she had a better life. Her health started to decline and had little to no money to live off of, but I’m so happy she was an inspiration to women all around. Even the Williams sisters and Zina Garrison. I enjoyed learning about this great player.
I found the end to be quite sad, I wished she had a better life. Her health started to decline and had little to no money to live off of, but I’m so happy she was an inspiration to women all around. Even the Williams sisters and Zina Garrison. I enjoyed learning about this great player.
February 28, 2023
I have just finished reading Althea: the life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson. I found it to be a well written and well researched biography of Althea Gibson, the young woman from Harlem who broke the colour barrier in tennis with her remarkable skill on the court. I I recommend this book as it was a very interesting read.
December 30, 2024
Book Review: Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson by Sally H. Jacobs, Narrated by Chanté McCormick
Thanks to NetGalley, Sally H. Jacobs, St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Macmillion Audio for the opportunity to review Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson.
I am not a tennis player, have never played the sport, and yet I was utterly drawn to this gripping biography of one of the world’s greatest tennis players. Jacobs delivers an extraordinary portrait of Althea Gibson, a street-savvy, scrappy prodigy who clawed her way into the exclusive, often hostile world of professional tennis in the mid-20th century. Breaking through the entrenched racism and bigotry of her time, Gibson paved the way for future legends like Arthur Ashe and Venus and Serena Williams, redefining what was possible for Black athletes in a sport that sought to keep them out.
What makes Gibson’s story so compelling is her dual battle: while conquering the tennis world, she fought inner demons of rage and self-doubt. Yet she never let those struggles—or the relentless discrimination she faced—deter her from achieving greatness. Jacobs captures both her public triumphs and private trials with remarkable depth, situating Gibson’s rise against the broader social struggles of her era.
Chanté McCormick’s narration adds another layer of richness to the story. Her delivery brings to life Gibson’s highs and lows with nuance and energy, making the audiobook an especially engaging way to experience this biography.
It’s no surprise that Althea has garnered accolades, from The Washington Post’s Best Nonfiction of 2023 to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Biographies of 2023, along with a spot on the William Hill Sports Book of the Year shortlist. This recognition is well deserved.
Jacobs’ only misstep might be getting too far into the weeds, being overly detailed in the mechanics of tennis (but again, I'm not a tennis player, so perhaps this is needed) and the side-stories of some of the characters, which to me seemed not needed and caused slightly uneven pacing in certain sections. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise excellent account of a groundbreaking life.
Even if you’ve never picked up a tennis racket, Althea is a must-read for sports fans, history buffs, and anyone seeking inspiration from a life lived against the odds. It’s a powerful reminder of the courage and resilience required to break barriers and make history. Gibson’s legacy transcends the court, inspiring us all to persist in the face of adversity.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Charles Francis, 12/29/2024
Thanks to NetGalley, Sally H. Jacobs, St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Macmillion Audio for the opportunity to review Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson.
I am not a tennis player, have never played the sport, and yet I was utterly drawn to this gripping biography of one of the world’s greatest tennis players. Jacobs delivers an extraordinary portrait of Althea Gibson, a street-savvy, scrappy prodigy who clawed her way into the exclusive, often hostile world of professional tennis in the mid-20th century. Breaking through the entrenched racism and bigotry of her time, Gibson paved the way for future legends like Arthur Ashe and Venus and Serena Williams, redefining what was possible for Black athletes in a sport that sought to keep them out.
What makes Gibson’s story so compelling is her dual battle: while conquering the tennis world, she fought inner demons of rage and self-doubt. Yet she never let those struggles—or the relentless discrimination she faced—deter her from achieving greatness. Jacobs captures both her public triumphs and private trials with remarkable depth, situating Gibson’s rise against the broader social struggles of her era.
Chanté McCormick’s narration adds another layer of richness to the story. Her delivery brings to life Gibson’s highs and lows with nuance and energy, making the audiobook an especially engaging way to experience this biography.
It’s no surprise that Althea has garnered accolades, from The Washington Post’s Best Nonfiction of 2023 to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Biographies of 2023, along with a spot on the William Hill Sports Book of the Year shortlist. This recognition is well deserved.
Jacobs’ only misstep might be getting too far into the weeds, being overly detailed in the mechanics of tennis (but again, I'm not a tennis player, so perhaps this is needed) and the side-stories of some of the characters, which to me seemed not needed and caused slightly uneven pacing in certain sections. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise excellent account of a groundbreaking life.
Even if you’ve never picked up a tennis racket, Althea is a must-read for sports fans, history buffs, and anyone seeking inspiration from a life lived against the odds. It’s a powerful reminder of the courage and resilience required to break barriers and make history. Gibson’s legacy transcends the court, inspiring us all to persist in the face of adversity.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Charles Francis, 12/29/2024
May 22, 2023
Althea Gibson, one of the legends of women's tennis, was also a world-class coper with discrimination. She lived with discrimination on at least six levels, and even Sally Jacobs has not quite comprehended the amount of prejudice she endured for being an introvert.
"Big Al" was almost always accepted as a female, but her biography shows that at least she lived with an unusual amount of testosterone for a woman. When she was born, her birth certificate initially recorded her as male. She was "the big fat one" as a baby, then the big, lean, muscular one as a girl and woman. Her father taught her street fighting the same way he did his sons--by punching her face, forcing her to beat him up. Tennis brought her out of the ghetto, to an all-Black college where her celebrity-athlete status allowed her to break rules and the nice girls muttered that she was a lesbian (without being able to name any possible girlfriends).
Then tennis became her full-time job--only, in order to win prestige as an amateur, under the existing rules, she was only allowed to earn $75 per month from tennis. She towered over older stars, smashed her way to Wimbledon, slowly learned to act like a lady--and some of the rich girls she clobbered were athletes enough to like her. Big Al's only real rival was "Little Mo," Maureen Connolly; officially, at least, both had been longing to meet someone who could play tennis as hard as they did, and liked each other.
Gibson planned for a career as a teacher, dreamed of one as a singer (she had a deep voice), made a few bids at one as a professional tennis player, and wrote a few books, but in fact, after aging out of tennis, she depended on men for money. Her relationships with men seem to have been a classic triangle, with a friend's brother apparently adoring her and another man she apparently loved eluding her, all their lives. Neither man complained of any anatomical surprises; it may have been her craving for solitude that shortened her marriages. She had known since age fifteen that she'd never have children.
This book may leave readers wishing a DNA analysis of Gibson's gender had been available. Other than that it's a well written, informative, uplifting study that should appeal to all readers who are or are not women, gender-confused, Black, athletes, or introverts. Four point seventy-five stars.
"Big Al" was almost always accepted as a female, but her biography shows that at least she lived with an unusual amount of testosterone for a woman. When she was born, her birth certificate initially recorded her as male. She was "the big fat one" as a baby, then the big, lean, muscular one as a girl and woman. Her father taught her street fighting the same way he did his sons--by punching her face, forcing her to beat him up. Tennis brought her out of the ghetto, to an all-Black college where her celebrity-athlete status allowed her to break rules and the nice girls muttered that she was a lesbian (without being able to name any possible girlfriends).
Then tennis became her full-time job--only, in order to win prestige as an amateur, under the existing rules, she was only allowed to earn $75 per month from tennis. She towered over older stars, smashed her way to Wimbledon, slowly learned to act like a lady--and some of the rich girls she clobbered were athletes enough to like her. Big Al's only real rival was "Little Mo," Maureen Connolly; officially, at least, both had been longing to meet someone who could play tennis as hard as they did, and liked each other.
Gibson planned for a career as a teacher, dreamed of one as a singer (she had a deep voice), made a few bids at one as a professional tennis player, and wrote a few books, but in fact, after aging out of tennis, she depended on men for money. Her relationships with men seem to have been a classic triangle, with a friend's brother apparently adoring her and another man she apparently loved eluding her, all their lives. Neither man complained of any anatomical surprises; it may have been her craving for solitude that shortened her marriages. She had known since age fifteen that she'd never have children.
This book may leave readers wishing a DNA analysis of Gibson's gender had been available. Other than that it's a well written, informative, uplifting study that should appeal to all readers who are or are not women, gender-confused, Black, athletes, or introverts. Four point seventy-five stars.
September 29, 2023
This past summer I took on a couple major new biographies that were really loooonnnnngggg. The Larry McMurty biography and The biography of Althea Gibson, one of the greatest tennis players in history, despite a troubled life from a horrific childhood in Harlam through her tennis career with anxiety and feeling like a "nobody" even after winning Wimbledon. Despite a lot of setbacks she loved the sport and managed to achieve greatness and helped paved the way for more black players including the Williams sisters who she helped train.
This is not simply a story about a famous tennis star, but a history of America and the Jin Crow laws where black people were not allowed anywhere white people would be. It is a terrible part of if our nation's history and I feel ashamed at the cruel treatment these people endured in those days and are still enduring in our society in the present. Don"t let that part of tte book jeep you from reading this excellent book. This is one of the reasons I like reading a lot of biographies... the good ones aren't simply a story about a famous person, but the life and times that person lives and how they survived in that environment.
I admit I didn't"t know many of all the tennis platers before tte '70s. They all seemed very caring of each other off the court and with no supportive family members they became Althea's "family". She did have some love interests and was married twice. I really liked how Althea always seem to bounce back after losing. She was also a good tennis coach for young people and she also enjoyed singing , loved performing at public events and even recorded an album. She never made a million dollar income from tennis, even as a winner and took different jobs to earn money.
What a terrific read. Sure it is long but there is so much to write about. Author Sally G Jacob did an amazing job in research and she lists a lot of "for further readings" in case you might want to explore any. topics further.
Thank you to Net Galley, publisher McMillan and author Sally G Jacob for giving me the opportunity to read this terrific biography and my opinion is my own and freely guven.
This is not simply a story about a famous tennis star, but a history of America and the Jin Crow laws where black people were not allowed anywhere white people would be. It is a terrible part of if our nation's history and I feel ashamed at the cruel treatment these people endured in those days and are still enduring in our society in the present. Don"t let that part of tte book jeep you from reading this excellent book. This is one of the reasons I like reading a lot of biographies... the good ones aren't simply a story about a famous person, but the life and times that person lives and how they survived in that environment.
I admit I didn't"t know many of all the tennis platers before tte '70s. They all seemed very caring of each other off the court and with no supportive family members they became Althea's "family". She did have some love interests and was married twice. I really liked how Althea always seem to bounce back after losing. She was also a good tennis coach for young people and she also enjoyed singing , loved performing at public events and even recorded an album. She never made a million dollar income from tennis, even as a winner and took different jobs to earn money.
What a terrific read. Sure it is long but there is so much to write about. Author Sally G Jacob did an amazing job in research and she lists a lot of "for further readings" in case you might want to explore any. topics further.
Thank you to Net Galley, publisher McMillan and author Sally G Jacob for giving me the opportunity to read this terrific biography and my opinion is my own and freely guven.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2023
Prize-winning journalist Sally H. Jacobs has constructed a substantial, significant portrait of Althea Gibson, an American athlete from an earlier era whose long strides garnered numerous awards and a place in the pantheon of exemplars for Black rights and recognition.
Born in the poverty of a sharecropping community in South Carolina, Althea’s fated rise to fame was underpinned when her family moved north. They were forced out by poor climate that devastated the cotton industry, which roughly coincided with the Great Depression. Their destination was Harlem, New York, where Althea learned and excelled at paddle tennis. With considerable boxing skills as well, she became a street fighter and something of a loner.
But Althea was observed and supported in tennis lessons. She would not have chosen this sport, but ultimately it would carry her to international and historic fame. To obtain a place in national competition, she would need heavy backing. Black athletes were unable to compete at the exclusive clubs where players were selected.
Moving upward, Althea would find herself pleasantly surrounded by peaceful scenery and wearing crisp, clean garments as required for tennis players. These outfits showed off her height and long limbs, which are two advantages in the sport. Her trajectory would include further college-level education, world travel and a growing list of distinguished firsts. By 1957, she was prepared for Wimbledon, taking the women’s singles title and lauded in the British press --- not as a “Negro tennis player,” but as “brown, lean Althea Gibson.”
Jacobs, who won the George Polk Award and the Pulitzer Prize for her intrepid journalism, has diligently matched the better-known public history of her heroine with little-known facts about Althea’s personal life and her views on the roiling racial tensions of her time. Friends and family have made contributions, and a myriad of photographs accompany the narrative. She was never free from the bonds of prejudice on numerous levels.
When Althea left tennis for golf, she was offered no special deals by the industry or its advertisers, even as Black men were feted. In her later years, she experienced serious health issues that left her broke and depressed, though she was bolstered by the fund-raising efforts of her erstwhile doubles partner, Angela Buxton.
Bringing Althea’s goals and accomplishments to life for a new, open-minded generation, Jacobs may spawn a fresh movement to offer this great and gritty legend wider, well-deserved, respectful acknowledgment.
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
Born in the poverty of a sharecropping community in South Carolina, Althea’s fated rise to fame was underpinned when her family moved north. They were forced out by poor climate that devastated the cotton industry, which roughly coincided with the Great Depression. Their destination was Harlem, New York, where Althea learned and excelled at paddle tennis. With considerable boxing skills as well, she became a street fighter and something of a loner.
But Althea was observed and supported in tennis lessons. She would not have chosen this sport, but ultimately it would carry her to international and historic fame. To obtain a place in national competition, she would need heavy backing. Black athletes were unable to compete at the exclusive clubs where players were selected.
Moving upward, Althea would find herself pleasantly surrounded by peaceful scenery and wearing crisp, clean garments as required for tennis players. These outfits showed off her height and long limbs, which are two advantages in the sport. Her trajectory would include further college-level education, world travel and a growing list of distinguished firsts. By 1957, she was prepared for Wimbledon, taking the women’s singles title and lauded in the British press --- not as a “Negro tennis player,” but as “brown, lean Althea Gibson.”
Jacobs, who won the George Polk Award and the Pulitzer Prize for her intrepid journalism, has diligently matched the better-known public history of her heroine with little-known facts about Althea’s personal life and her views on the roiling racial tensions of her time. Friends and family have made contributions, and a myriad of photographs accompany the narrative. She was never free from the bonds of prejudice on numerous levels.
When Althea left tennis for golf, she was offered no special deals by the industry or its advertisers, even as Black men were feted. In her later years, she experienced serious health issues that left her broke and depressed, though she was bolstered by the fund-raising efforts of her erstwhile doubles partner, Angela Buxton.
Bringing Althea’s goals and accomplishments to life for a new, open-minded generation, Jacobs may spawn a fresh movement to offer this great and gritty legend wider, well-deserved, respectful acknowledgment.
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
August 8, 2023
I admittedly didn’t know a ton about Althea Gibson before receiving a copy of this book to read and review, but I love tennis and history, so I was excited to dig in. I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook - I had the audiobook pretty sped up since the narration was kinda of slow and monotone.
Althea Gibson’s life, overall, was certainly heartbreaking, but she didn’t let any of the trials she faced hold her back. I can’t imagine having her determination and I truly admire her after reading this book. She was an absolute force and inspiration and should be way more widely recognized. I know it’s a sign of the disgusting times in our history that she was so easily cast aside despite her incredible talent, but she should definitely be praised now - I’ll definitely have to hunt for Althea Gibson children’s books to purchase for all my friends babies, so her name can be up there with Sally Ride and Katherine Johnson in their admirable female role models.
This book is heavy on the facts, but told well enough to keep attention. It’s definitely not a binge read - maybe a good bedside table book to pick up and put down with leisure. And it’s very long, which leads to my one star removal. I’d have a hard time recommending it to people who aren’t tennis or history buffs or any of my strictly fiction/romcom friends who’d probably find this book boring. But as far as a long into an incredible life, Sally H. Jacobs had created an incredible book about a bad*ss woman. I felt like I missed Althea as soon as the book ended.
Althea Gibson’s life, overall, was certainly heartbreaking, but she didn’t let any of the trials she faced hold her back. I can’t imagine having her determination and I truly admire her after reading this book. She was an absolute force and inspiration and should be way more widely recognized. I know it’s a sign of the disgusting times in our history that she was so easily cast aside despite her incredible talent, but she should definitely be praised now - I’ll definitely have to hunt for Althea Gibson children’s books to purchase for all my friends babies, so her name can be up there with Sally Ride and Katherine Johnson in their admirable female role models.
This book is heavy on the facts, but told well enough to keep attention. It’s definitely not a binge read - maybe a good bedside table book to pick up and put down with leisure. And it’s very long, which leads to my one star removal. I’d have a hard time recommending it to people who aren’t tennis or history buffs or any of my strictly fiction/romcom friends who’d probably find this book boring. But as far as a long into an incredible life, Sally H. Jacobs had created an incredible book about a bad*ss woman. I felt like I missed Althea as soon as the book ended.
August 15, 2023
"Althea" by Sally H. Jacobs is a captivating book that chronicles the life of Althea Gibson, an African-American woman who rose to become a groundbreaking sports figure in the 1950s. Despite facing racial and gender biases, Gibson excelled in both tennis and golf. The book follows her journey from being a street-savvy young woman in Harlem to becoming a dominant force in tennis, winning major tournaments and breaking barriers. She became the world's top-ranked female tennis player in 1957 and 1958 and later made history as the first Black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). The book highlights Gibson's trailblazing achievements, emphasizing her impact as a sports legend and an inspiration to generations.
«آلثا» نوشته سالی اچ جیکوبز کتابی گیرا است که زندگی آلثا گیبسون، یک زن آفریقایی-آمریکایی را روایت می کند که در دهه ۱۹۵۰ به یک چهره ورزشی پیشگام تبدیل شد. گیبسون علیرغم اینکه با تعصبات نژادی و جنسیتی روبرو بود، در تنیس و گلف عالی بود. این کتاب سفر او را از یک زن جوان باهوش خیابانی در هارلم تا تبدیل شدن به یک نیروی مسلط در تنیس، برنده شدن در مسابقات بزرگ و شکستن موانع را دنبال میکند. او در سال های ۱۹۵۷ و ۱۹۵۸ برترین تنیسور زن جهان شد و بعدها به عنوان اولین زن سیاه پوستی که به انجمن گلف حرفه ای بانوان پیوست، تاریخ را ثبت کرد. این کتاب دستاوردهای برجسته گیبسون را برجسته می کند و بر تأثیر او به عنوان یک اسطوره ورزشی و الهام بخش نسل ها تأکید می کند.
«آلثا» نوشته سالی اچ جیکوبز کتابی گیرا است که زندگی آلثا گیبسون، یک زن آفریقایی-آمریکایی را روایت می کند که در دهه ۱۹۵۰ به یک چهره ورزشی پیشگام تبدیل شد. گیبسون علیرغم اینکه با تعصبات نژادی و جنسیتی روبرو بود، در تنیس و گلف عالی بود. این کتاب سفر او را از یک زن جوان باهوش خیابانی در هارلم تا تبدیل شدن به یک نیروی مسلط در تنیس، برنده شدن در مسابقات بزرگ و شکستن موانع را دنبال میکند. او در سال های ۱۹۵۷ و ۱۹۵۸ برترین تنیسور زن جهان شد و بعدها به عنوان اولین زن سیاه پوستی که به انجمن گلف حرفه ای بانوان پیوست، تاریخ را ثبت کرد. این کتاب دستاوردهای برجسته گیبسون را برجسته می کند و بر تأثیر او به عنوان یک اسطوره ورزشی و الهام بخش نسل ها تأکید می کند.
June 22, 2023
I am ashamed to admit this, but as a former college tennis player, I did not know much about the great tennis legend Althea Gibson. How and why did I not know about her athletic fetes and incredible life? Anyone who has ever picked up a tennis racket (or done any sport for that matter) this book should be required reading.
I didn't know what I was getting myself into. This biography brings all the emotions to the court. Sally Jacobs leaves it all our there for the reader. This was a deep dig into her turmoutulous past and inspiring life. Althea's difficult childhood left me in shock that she was able to over come evrerything and maintain such spunk and drive. I loved the confidence she had and she opened so many doors for future generations of tennis (and golfers!)
Again I am sad to say when you may have asked me if I could meet any tennis player in the world, she had not been on my list. But after reading this delightful recounting of her life and career I can think of nothing more pleasurable that sitting down and sharing an order of McDonalds Pancakes in one of her fancy cars and diving deep into a conversation.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves the game of tennis. Althea thank you for all that you did for the game!
Thank you Netgally for this advanced reader copy. I was not influenced in anyway for this honest review.
I didn't know what I was getting myself into. This biography brings all the emotions to the court. Sally Jacobs leaves it all our there for the reader. This was a deep dig into her turmoutulous past and inspiring life. Althea's difficult childhood left me in shock that she was able to over come evrerything and maintain such spunk and drive. I loved the confidence she had and she opened so many doors for future generations of tennis (and golfers!)
Again I am sad to say when you may have asked me if I could meet any tennis player in the world, she had not been on my list. But after reading this delightful recounting of her life and career I can think of nothing more pleasurable that sitting down and sharing an order of McDonalds Pancakes in one of her fancy cars and diving deep into a conversation.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves the game of tennis. Althea thank you for all that you did for the game!
Thank you Netgally for this advanced reader copy. I was not influenced in anyway for this honest review.
July 25, 2023
Althea Gibson was a great number of things, most notably was that she was a woman who had the experience of becoming the first black, female tennis champion to win Wimbledon and ten other grand slam championships during the time that players were not paid except for room and board. Moreover, she did this during a time when, unfortunately, many people were believers of keeping “colored” people and whites separated .
She was overlooked by sponsors, insulted by fans and other players ( there were some who cheered her on ) and often panned by publications for not advancing the cause of the negro.
She later played on the professional golf tour, and worked for the promotion of athleticism.
She came before the Williams sisters or Zina Garrison, but, that was 1950s…. And not many know her history now. I hope this book is read by every female tennis player from cover to cover. Ms. Gibson did so much and reaped few benefits from her success that every player should see how a great life can evolve. I hope they are able to see the lessons in here.
I do recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC.
She was overlooked by sponsors, insulted by fans and other players ( there were some who cheered her on ) and often panned by publications for not advancing the cause of the negro.
She later played on the professional golf tour, and worked for the promotion of athleticism.
She came before the Williams sisters or Zina Garrison, but, that was 1950s…. And not many know her history now. I hope this book is read by every female tennis player from cover to cover. Ms. Gibson did so much and reaped few benefits from her success that every player should see how a great life can evolve. I hope they are able to see the lessons in here.
I do recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC.
September 10, 2023
Althea Gibson broke the barrier for a black woman to play professional tennis that was played professionally by all white tennis players. This paved a way for others to come behind her to play tennis professionally such as Zina Garrison, sisters Venus and Serena Williams .
Althea was born in the segregated south and moved with her family to Harlem New York. She came from a dysfunctional family and practically raised herself in the streets fighting her way through especially her father who would constantly beat her and her mother did little to protect her.
She finally met two doctors that also played tennis and they would alternate letting Althea live with them to train and coach her in tennis.
There is a lot of history that I learned from reading Althea’s story. The author did a great job in researching the history behind Althea’s personal and professional life.
I highly recommend this book to read.
I received an arc from NetGalley and this review is of my own honest opinion and thoughts.
Althea was born in the segregated south and moved with her family to Harlem New York. She came from a dysfunctional family and practically raised herself in the streets fighting her way through especially her father who would constantly beat her and her mother did little to protect her.
She finally met two doctors that also played tennis and they would alternate letting Althea live with them to train and coach her in tennis.
There is a lot of history that I learned from reading Althea’s story. The author did a great job in researching the history behind Althea’s personal and professional life.
I highly recommend this book to read.
I received an arc from NetGalley and this review is of my own honest opinion and thoughts.
March 15, 2024
I’d heard of Altheas Gibson and knew she was a tennis champion. But I was unaware of the hardships she faced on her journey from the streets of Harlem to the courts of Wimbledon. Jacobs did a good job of filling in the holes and bringing Gibson to life. My only complaint is the length of the chapters. I don’t like to stop reading in the middle of one, but when those chapters are 30, 40, or more pages long that’s impossible. The chapters were dense with information, but their sheer length made it difficult to finish. I found myself putting the book down many times in order to read others. Still, I did finish and the book gave me a new appreciation for Gibson’s life and contributions to tennis. She rose to the top in spite of the bigotry and discrimination she faced at every turn. Unfortunately she never received the benefits given to others in terms of sponsorship opportunities and died virtually penniless and her accomplishments forgotten. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for giving me an opportunity to read about this remarkable athlete.
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