Althea Gibson was born to poor sharecroppers in the town of Silver, South Carolina. The family was impacted by the Great Depression early, as cotton farmers suffered the impact of the financial downturn earlier than many others.
In response to the economic strains of the Depression, the family moved to Harlem, New York. Althea's parents had three more children in their apartment in Harlem. The street was part of a Police Athletic League Play area, and children had access to the street for organized play during the day. Althea learned to play paddle tennis in the street in front of her home.
By 12 years old, Althea was the New York City Paddle Tennis champion. She competed in the women's league, rather than with children of her own age, and quickly became successful.
In , neighbors joined together to pay for a membership to Harlem's Cosmopolitan Tennis Club for Althea, then 13 years old. The following year, she won the Girls' American Tennis Association championship for the state o
Althea Gibson, approx. Courtesy Johnson Family Archives.
Althea Gibson is born in Silver, SC, on August 25,
Family moves North to Philadelphia, PA, then settled in Harlem in New York City.
At age of 12, Althea becomes New York City women&#;s paddle tennis champion.
Althea enters—and wins—her first tournament, the American Tennis Association (ATA) New York State Championship.
Althea moves to Wilmington, NC, and lives with Dr. Hubert Eaton and family. Attends Williston High School in winters and spends summers in Lynchburg, VA, with Dr. Robert W. Johnson and family, working in her tennis game and traveling to ATA tournaments.
Graduates high school.
Althea becomes the first black woman, and the second black athlete (after Reginald Weir), to play in the USTA&#;s National Indoor Championships. She lost narrowly in the second round in a rain-delayed, three-set match toLouise Brough, the reigning Wimbledon champion and former U.S. National winner.
Entered Florida A&M University on a full athletic scholarship.
Althea is first African American to play the U.S. Nationals, at Forest Hills in Queens, New York City. She loses to Louise Brough in second
Althea Gibson - Tennis Players, Family and Childhood
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Althea Gibson's Personal Details
An American tennis player, professional golfer, Althea Gibson was the first woman, of African-American origin, to carve a niche in the international tennis arena
// Famous African American Women
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Who is Althea Gibson?
Althea Gibson was born in a poor family, but her financial conditions didn’t deter her from excelling in the world of tennis. Despite being a person of black origin, she stood out as a r
The sociological and historical significance of August 25, was enormous for African-Americans in their pursuit of breaking down color lines and paving the way for equal opportunities as Althea Gibson became the first African-American to compete at the U.S. National Championships. Gibson’s inclusion in America’s biggest tennis event wasn’t just about gaining acceptance in the sporting world, but seen as a momentum builder for blacks in the game of life. What Jackie Robinson did for baseball by being in the Brooklyn Dodgers’s starting lineup at first base on April 15, , Althea Gibson did for tennis when she made her historic debut, defeating Barbara Knapp, , , in the first round.
Gibson had a jam-packed eight-year career, with all of her major championships coming from to , when she appeared in a stunning 19 major finals and won 11 titles. Five were in singles: the French in , Wimbledon in and , and the U.S. Nationals in and ; five in women’s doubles: the French , the Australian in , Wimbledon in , , and one in mixed doubles, at the U.S. in After that remarkable run of accomplishment, Gibson became the first African-American to compete on the women’s professional golf tour in
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