Serena Williams’ Legacy for Public Officials

Serena and Venus played tennis as juniors at Hilton Head Island, S.C., in the 1990s. Their father, Richard Williams, often spoke out about race. Serena became an articulate voice for racial and gender equality within professional tennis. The sisters saved women's tennis by making it exciting and attractive. They also helped raise awareness of the exploitation of Black athletes. The girls' religious upbringing as Jehovah's Witnesses may have contributed to their reluctance to speak out explicitly about racial prejudice. Ndelea believes the power and swagger in their games stemmed from the skill of training and from their experiences.