Althea Gibson Racial Barriers

Many years ago, African-Americans no matter how talented or athletic were prohibited in playing or joining in most sports events because of racial barriers. In the year 1927 in Silver, South Carolina, someone who would change that was born. Her name was Althea Gibson. "She was the first African American to play professional tennis or professional golf in the United States -- and she played them both!" As a little girl Gibson enjoyed participating in many sports and playing them on her free time. In the summer of 1941, she competed in a paddle ball tournament, which she won. She was suggested to try out tennis and that is exactly what she did. She enjoyed it so much she began taking tennis lessons and competing in tennis tournaments.

From the year 1947 Althea Gibson had won ten tennis national championships of the American Tennis Association (ATA) in a row. However, despite all of her success, racial barriers prohibited her from playing in events held by the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA.) Since this was discrimination, many other famous
Althea Gibson started from the bottom as most people do, and had to face serious obstacles to become what she had become. Althea Gibson fought and broke many racial barriers allowing many other upcoming athletes to be successful and follow in her footsteps. "In recent years, Venus and Serena Williams have dominated professional women's tennis. Tiger Woods has dominated professional golf. All three of these champions are of African-American descent. But not that long ago, all three would have been banned from professional sports because of their color. These famous athletes owe at least a small debt of gratitude to a remarkable woman named Althea Gibson for breaking racial barriers in professional sports." This goes to show what an example Althea Gibson could actually be. After her death, her legacy will live