Birth/Death:
1927-2003
Location:
Althea Gibson was born in South Carolina on August 25, 1927. At an early age,
she developed a love of sport. Her great talent was in tennis, but in the 1950s,
most tournaments were closed to African Americans. Gibson kept playing (and
winning) until her skills could no longer be denied, and became the first African
American to play at Wimbledon.
Early Life:
According toThe Biography Channel website, Althea Neale Gibson, born on August
25, 1927, in Silver City, South Carolina, blazed a new trail in the sport of tennis,
winning some of the sport's biggest titles in the 1950s and becoming the game's first
black champion. At a young age, Althea Gibson moved with her family to the
Harlem borough of New York City. Gibson's life at this time had its hardships.
Her family struggled to make end's meet, living on public assistance for a time,
and she struggled in the classroom, often skipping school all together. However,
Gibson loved to play sports—especially ping-pong. After winning several tournaments
hosted by the local recreation department, she was introduced to the Harlem River
Tennis Courts in 1941. Incredibly, just a year after picking up a racket for the first time,
Gibson won a local tournament sponsored by the American Tennis Association, an
African-American organization established to promote and sponsor tournaments for black
players. For Gibson, two more ATA titles followed in 1944 and 1945. After losing one title in
1946, Gibson won 10 straight championships from 1947 to 1956.
Contributions and Significance:
The contribution that Althea Gibson brought was showing not only to the United States,
but to the world that she was a capable woman. She opened the door for African-American
women in tennis by winning the Wimbledon title. Even though she does not consider herself ”a
crusader for the Negro”, it is there undeniable that she was an African-American who overcame
the racial barrier.
Today’s Impact:
Gibson’s impact in today’s society is seeing African-Americans playing today. She was a great
tennis champion. If there was no Althea Gibson, there would not have been a Serena
Williams.
Why I Chose this History Maker:
The reason I chose Althea Gibson was because I want to expand my knowledge of people.
She fit in with the other people I chose for the project.
1927-2003
Location:
Althea Gibson was born in South Carolina on August 25, 1927. At an early age,
she developed a love of sport. Her great talent was in tennis, but in the 1950s,
most tournaments were closed to African Americans. Gibson kept playing (and
winning) until her skills could no longer be denied, and became the first African
American to play at Wimbledon.
Early Life:
According toThe Biography Channel website, Althea Neale Gibson, born on August
25, 1927, in Silver City, South Carolina, blazed a new trail in the sport of tennis,
winning some of the sport's biggest titles in the 1950s and becoming the game's first
black champion. At a young age, Althea Gibson moved with her family to the
Harlem borough of New York City. Gibson's life at this time had its hardships.
Her family struggled to make end's meet, living on public assistance for a time,
and she struggled in the classroom, often skipping school all together. However,
Gibson loved to play sports—especially ping-pong. After winning several tournaments
hosted by the local recreation department, she was introduced to the Harlem River
Tennis Courts in 1941. Incredibly, just a year after picking up a racket for the first time,
Gibson won a local tournament sponsored by the American Tennis Association, an
African-American organization established to promote and sponsor tournaments for black
players. For Gibson, two more ATA titles followed in 1944 and 1945. After losing one title in
1946, Gibson won 10 straight championships from 1947 to 1956.
Contributions and Significance:
The contribution that Althea Gibson brought was showing not only to the United States,
but to the world that she was a capable woman. She opened the door for African-American
women in tennis by winning the Wimbledon title. Even though she does not consider herself ”a
crusader for the Negro”, it is there undeniable that she was an African-American who overcame
the racial barrier.
Today’s Impact:
Gibson’s impact in today’s society is seeing African-Americans playing today. She was a great
tennis champion. If there was no Althea Gibson, there would not have been a Serena
Williams.
Why I Chose this History Maker:
The reason I chose Althea Gibson was because I want to expand my knowledge of people.
She fit in with the other people I chose for the project.