Aug. 27 2007 - Althea Gibson overcame unbelievable odds to achieve international acclaim and success. Her journey from the violent streets of Harlem to the royal courts of Wimbledon reveals her strength of character and her remarkable composure in the face of racial prejudice. A pioneer in both amateur tennis and professional golf, Althea paved the way for the likes of Venus Williams and Tiger Woods.
In an opening night celebration themed, “Breaking Barriers,” a courtside ceremony took place on August 27th at 7:30PM, ET during the 2007 U.S. Open.
The tribute included a celebration of noted African American women who have broken barriers in the worlds of sports, entertainment, politics and the arts including Sheila C. Johnson, a founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) as well as the first woman to have a stake in three professional sports teams including the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, the NBA’s Washington Wizards, and the Washington Capitals (NHL).
“Sheila Johnson embodies the spirit of Althea Gibson,” said Jane Brown Grimes, President and Chairman of the Board, USTA. “She is a pioneer whose accomplishments and achievements continue to pave the road for women and girls.”
Althea Gibson became the first African American tennis player, male or female, to win the title at the U.S. National Championships (now the US Open) in 1957. She was a trailblazer of great talent and greater courage, who overcame many obstacles while compiling a career filled with firsts. In addition to breaking the color barrier in tennis (1950), she was the first African American to win singles titles at the French Championships (1956), Wimbledon (1957) and the U.S. Nationals (1957). With her success, she became the first African American to be named Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year (1957 and 1958). Gibson won eleven Grand Slam titles in all, adding six doubles crowns to her singles success.
As part of the on-court ceremonies on Opening Night, Gibson was inducted into the US Open Court of Champions, which salutes the greatest singles champions in the history of the U.S. Championships/US Open. An individual, permanent monument will serve as a lasting tribute on-site at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, US Open Court of Champions. Gibson was the leader in voting conducted by a panel of international print and broadcast journalists. She will join prior inductees Don Budge, Maureen Connolly, Jimmy Connors, Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Billie Jean King, Jack Kramer, Rod Laver, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Bill Tilden and Helen Wills.
In addition to Ms. Johnson, other women recognized for their accomplishments included, Yolanda Adams — First to receive the Contemporary/Inspirational Artist Award, the American Music Awards; Ella Bully-Cummings — First to be appointed Chief of Police Detroit Police Department; Cynthia Cooper — First to score 2500 career points in WNBA history; Roberta Flack — First to student teach in a predominately all-white school in the 1950’s; Vonetta Flowers — First to win a gold medal, Winter Olympics; Zina Garrison — First to win an Olympic tennis medal; Nikki Giovanni — First to receive the Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award;Traci Green — First head coach at Harvard University; Dr. Mae Jemison — First to become an astronaut, Space Shuttle Endeavour; Jackie Joyner-Kersee — First to win back-to-back gold medals in the heptathlon event; Carol Moseley Braun — First to be elected to U.S. Senate (Democrat, Illinois); Hazel O’Leary — First to be appointed Secretary of Energy; Sharon Pratt Kelly — First to be elected Mayor of large U.S. city (Washington D.C.); Phylicia Rashad — First to win a Tony, Best Performance Leading Actress, Play; Susan L. Taylor — First to receive the Henry Johnson Fisher Award; Dr. Debi Thomas — First to win a Winter Olympic medal, Figure Skating and Lynette Woodard — First to join the Harlem Globetrotters.
Aretha Franklin, the first African American woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, performed a special tribute during the ceremony.
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