Serena Williams transcended tennis
Serena Williams’s story is often portrayed as the “American Dream”, a severe misinterpretation riddled with phrases like “unique work ethic” and “visionary father.”. In reality, Williams’s story is one rare, almost impossible, outcome of the countless low-income black families with the same determination.
On Sept. 2, 41-year old Williams played the last tennis match of her long, challenging career – challenging only because we live in a society that actively prevents the success of black women, to the point where it seems impossible that a little black girl from Compton could grow up to dominate a rich, white sport.
Over the course of her long challenging career, Williams has faced hate for the color of her skin, her muscular build, her hair, her family, her demeanor on court, and just about everything else. Countless theories were made conspiring how Williams was supposedly born a man, just because she is strong. She has even entered matches to boo-ing crowds with shouts of the n-word. Despite the countless incidents of hate and racism throughout her career, she always tried to stay composed.
Williams transcended the tennis world not just with her skill on court but with her humanity off court. Not only that, Williams serves as an example that black women can excel. Her legacy carries on through new successful black female tennis players who can now look through history and see someone that looks like them.
Williams leaves the court not only as a 23-time grand slam champion, but as a symbol of resilience who has shown the world she is a force to be reckoned with. Let us not forget Serena Williams has achieved the title as one of the greatest players of all time in spite of the world’s effort to stop her.
Serena Williams may no longer be a tennis player but she will have never truly left the tennis court. Her figure reassures young women everywhere that having muscles does not make you less feminine. Her hair, nails, and outfits encourage young girls to embrace their individuality.
In her August 2022 Vogue interview she said, “I’ve built a career on channeling anger and negativity and turning it into something good. My sister Venus once said that when someone out there says you can’t do something, it is because they can’t do it. But I did do it. And so can you.”
