Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson
by Sally H. Jacobs
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"A captivating book that brilliantly reveals an American sports legend long overlooked. Sally Jacobs tells the riveting story of Althea Gibson, my personal hero, who overcame daunting odds - on the tennis court and off - to stand at the world pinnacle of her sport and became an inspiration to many." - Billie Jean King In 1950, three years after Jackie Robinson first walked onto the diamond at Ebbets Field, the all-white, upper-crust US Lawn Tennis Association opened its door just a crack to show more receive a powerhouse player who would integrate "the game of royalty." The player was a street-savvy young Black woman from Harlem named Althea Gibson who was about as out-of-place in that rarefied and intolerant world as any aspiring tennis champion could be. Her tattered jeans and short-cropped hair drew stares from everyone who watched her play, but her astonishing performance on the court soon eclipsed the negative feelings being cast her way as she eventually became one of the greatest American tennis champions. Gibson had a stunning career. Raised in New York and trained by a pair of tennis-playing doctors in the South, Gibson's immense talent on the court opened the door for her to compete around the world. She won top prizes at Wimbledon and Forest Hills time and time again. The young woman underestimated by so many wound up shaking hands with Queen Elizabeth II, being driven up Broadway in a snowstorm of ticker tape, and ultimately became the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated and the second to appear on the cover of Time. In a crowning achievement, Althea Gibson became the No. One ranked female tennis player in the world for both 1957 and 1958. Seven years later she broke the color barrier again where she became the first Black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). In Althea, prize-winning former Boston Globe reporter Sally H. Jacobs tells the heart-rending story of this pioneer, a remarkable woman who was a trailblazer, a champion, and one of the most remarkable Americans of the twentieth century"-- show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Before their were the Williams sisters their was a woman who made their accomplishments possible. Althea Gibson was a ground breaker in the 1940's and beyond. A tremendously gifted athlete from Harlem she comes under the mentorship of two men who try to help her control her undisciplined game and nature. It was a roller coaster of a life dotted with constant racism and poverty even after being a Wimbledon champion. A really fascinating person.
I never knew.
I'd always known that Althea Gibson was the penultimate tennis pro of her day, but had poor understanding of ALL the hardships she faced or that she was also in the LPGA. The publisher's blurb is a good one as far as it goes while skirting the whole natural hormone issue. She came from financial poverty, overcame almost everything, and retired into emotional poverty. A truly admirable woman who deserved better.
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
I'd always known that Althea Gibson was the penultimate tennis pro of her day, but had poor understanding of ALL the hardships she faced or that she was also in the LPGA. The publisher's blurb is a good one as far as it goes while skirting the whole natural hormone issue. She came from financial poverty, overcame almost everything, and retired into emotional poverty. A truly admirable woman who deserved better.
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
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2 Works 70 Members
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- Genres
- Sports and Leisure, Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 796.342092 — Arts & recreation Recreation, sports, and performing arts Sports Ball sports Racquet sports Tennis Tennis Biography And History
- LCC
- GV994 .G53 .J33 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Recreation. Leisure Recreation. Leisure Sports Ball games: Baseball, football, golf, etc.
- BISAC
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- 32
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- 877,662
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 1
