In 1957, at the esteemed Wimbledon tournament, Althea Gibson, the top-seeded female player from New York City, teamed up with Neale Fraser, an Australian tennis player, in the mixed doubles draw. Despite being a solid duo, they encountered difficulties in the finals and lost in two sets. Gibson, who had become the first Black player to win the Wimbledon singles title earlier that day, was fatigued and not in top form. In a groundbreaking moment, she received the Venus Rosewater Dish from Queen Elizabeth II, marking a reversal of roles as a Black woman was honored by a symbol of white supremacy.
Ashley Brown, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, captures this incredible scene in her biography, “Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson.” Brown emphasizes the significance of this event, highlighting the role Gibson played in breaking down racial barriers in American sports. Sally H. Jacobs, a former Boston Globe reporter, also sheds light on Gibson’s fearless and confident nature in her biography, “Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson.” She recounts an incident where Gibson asserted her place in the tennis hierarchy by telling Fraser that she would go first in a mixed-doubles service game. This act of defiance against racist and sexist norms during the Cold War era showcased Gibson’s determination and courage.
Gibson’s list of accomplishments, particularly in breaking barriers as a Black athlete, is remarkable. Alongside her Wimbledon victory, she also triumphed at the French Championships and the U.S. National Championships (now known respectively as the French Open and the U.S. Open) in 1956, 1957, and 1958. She graced the covers of prestigious magazines like Sports Illustrated and Time and received the Associated Press Athlete of the Year awards. Her achievements extended beyond tennis, such as becoming the first Black player in a mixed-race tournament below the Mason-Dixon Line in 1951 and later joining the LPGA Tour as the first African American member at the age of 36. Despite these accomplishments, Gibson’s legacy has been undervalued and overshadowed, especially compared to figures like Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King.
Reading these biographies provides a deeper understanding of Gibson’s extraordinary life and career. It is astonishing that no major biopic has been made about her, considering the wealth of material available. From touring with the Globetrotters to playing an enslaved person in a John Wayne movie, Gibson led a remarkable life outside of tennis. Brown and Jacobs, through their extensive research and interviews, bring Gibson’s story to life, captivating readers with anecdotes that range from compelling to biblical.
Both biographies differ in style and tone. Brown, as an academic, delves deeper into historical archives, particularly African American newspapers, whereas Jacobs, a journalist, focuses more on firsthand accounts from over 100 individuals, including Gibson’s peers. Brown’s book features denser historical digressions, while Jacobs’s is lighter in tone. However, both authors explore the political and social landscapes of Gibson’s time, as well as her complex relationship with the Black community.
Gibson’s personality shines through in both biographies. Her brash, funny, and exuberant nature is palpable, but so is the contradiction between her insistence on being seen as just a tennis player and the racial and gender biases she faced. Gibson faced constant sexist critique, with sportswriters questioning her “manly” appearance and style of play. Throughout her life, she held onto her vision of being a politically neutral tennis champion, believing that it would help her overcome the racism and sexism of society. However, her career in tennis was financially challenging, and her dreams of a successful post-tennis career were shattered when her jazz album flopped. She later served as New Jersey’s commissioner of athletics, but it did not provide financial stability. In her later years, Gibson lived a reclusive life, battling poor health and financial difficulties. Despite efforts by tennis stars like Billie Jean King to support her, Gibson’s years of struggles and neglect paint a grim picture of the treatment she received as a pioneering athlete.
It is disheartening that Gibson’s legacy remains muted today, considering her immeasurable contributions to sports and society. Brown and Jacobs’s biographies work in tandem to shed light on the life of a supremely talented athlete whose impact rivals that of Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King. Both authors cover Gibson’s entire life, from her tumultuous upbringing in Harlem to her global tennis career and ultimately to her tragic final years. Their books provide alternate perspectives, refuting the notion of a definitive biography, but collectively they present a compelling case for Gibson as the most unsung athlete in American history.
In conclusion, the biographies of Althea Gibson by Ashley Brown and Sally H. Jacobs offer a comprehensive and captivating exploration of her life and career. These books dismantle the notion that there can be a singular definitive biography, providing different styles and tones while shedding light on Gibson’s remarkable achievements and the challenges she faced. By reintroducing Gibson to the public and elevating her public stature, we honor her legacy and ensure that her name is never forgotten. Renaming the third U.S. Open stadium, the Grandstand, as Gibson would serve as a permanent reminder of her groundbreaking accomplishments and her role in paving the way for future generations.
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