The International Tennis Hall of Fame, a Smithsonian affiliate, will be hosting two virtual lectures celebrating Black History Month. Advanced registration is required and free, but a suggested donation of $10 can be made to support the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 | 7:00 PM ET
Althea Gibson and the History of Tennis at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture
This talk will explore the gender and racial dynamics of tennis as told through the life story of Hall of Famer Althea Gibson, who broke tennis’ color barrier when she became the first African-American to compete at the U.S. National Championships. Gibson went on to win titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Nationals, and the French Nationals and be ranked world No.1. The program will highlight the resulting cultural impact of her accomplishment and of integration in tennis.
Moderated by Katrina Adams, immediate past President, Chairperson, and CEO of the United States Tennis Association.
This presentation is made possible through the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s designation as a Smithsonian Affiliate. The Hall of Fame earned this prestigious distinction in 2017.
PREVIOUS EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 | 7:00 PM ET
The History of Black Tennis in Rhode Island
Despite tennis’s emphasis on singular achievement, black tennis occupied an important social and cultural space in building African American communities in Newport and Providence in the early 1900s. Black tennis clubs, along with fraternal and civic organizations, encouraged participation and arranged tournaments that reflected the politics of respectability, but also strengthened racial identity, fortified community, and showcased an innovative form of cultural and artistic expression. The program will spotlight the Old Hometown Tennis and Athletic Club, which was established in Newport in 1927 by leaders associated with all four African heritage churches, the Newport NAACP, and other civic associations. The Black tennis club hosted tournaments on backyard tennis courts as part of a broader strategy to instill “social uplift and physical culture” among the young in Newport.
