African—Americans in Tennis African Americans have had a great impact on the history of tennis. From playing at the park down the street, to playing on center court, African—Americans have stamped their name on the game of tennis. By Hank Hlavaty / USTA Texas
A Brief History of African—Americans in Tennis In 1916, the American Tennis As‐ socia on was created as the governing body of black tennis in America. The next year, the ATA had their first na onal championship in Bal more where they crowned Tally Holmes as champion. The ATA gave African—Americans a chance to play tennis compe vely. However, they were s ll not allowed to play on the ten‐ nis tour for white players. That changed in the 1950’s with Althea Gibson, and the help of Alice Marble. Marble was one of the best white tennis players at the me. She wrote a le er to her tennis associa on advoca ng for Gib‐ son’s eligibility to play against white women. In her le er she said, “If tennis is a game for ladies and gentlemen, it’s me we acted a li le more like gentle people and less like sanc monious hypocrites”. This le er was responsible for her admi ance into several qualifying tournaments. From there, Althea went on to win Wimbledon and the US Na onal singles tles in 1957 and 1958.
The next great African‐ American tennis player is none other than Arthur Ashe. Born in the me of southern segrega on, Arthur Ashe’s father worked as a handyman, and a part me secu‐ rity guard for the Richmond, Va., recrea on department. Ashe couldn’t play at the parks where his dad worked, however, because he was black. He did not let that stop him as he went on to win the Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon. Center Court at the US Open is now named in his hon‐ or.
Players like Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe have paved the way for African—Americans like James Blake, Donald Young, Sloane Stephens, and the Wil‐ liams Sisters to pursue their dreams.
Honor Black History Month by playing at these parks with tennis courts around Texas Barbara Jordan Park—Houston Barbara Jordan was a civil rights leader, the first African American elected to the Texas senate, and the first southern black female elected to the United States House of Representa ves. The park features basketball courts, jogging trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, a volleyball court, and two lighted tennis courts. Chris a V. Adair Park—Houston Chris a V. Adair was a church and community leader, who devoted her life to the work of gaining equal rights for blacks and women. She was named the first black commi eewoman in Texas and was named to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 1984. The park features nature trails, tennis courts, play‐ grounds, picnic ar‐ eas, pavilions and a community cen‐ ter.
Finnigan Park—Houston This park is named a er Anne e Finnigan. Months before her death in 1940, she gave 18 acres of land to the city of Houston for use as a park, intending it par cularly to benefit black residents. There was segrega on at the me and the only other green space for blacks was Emancipa on Park. Finnigan Park has a baseball field, basketball court, tennis courts, a pool, community center, playground, and picnic areas.
Rosewood Park—Aus n Rosewood Park is home to a mul purpose field, picnic tables, playgrounds, barbeque pits, a swimming pool and two tennis courts. Rosewood Park also contains Rosewood Rec‐ rea on Center and the Doris Miller Auditori‐ um, which was named a er the first African ‐ American to be awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery during the a acks on Pearl Har‐ bor. Anderson Bonner Park—Dallas Anderson Bonner was a landowner, entrepre‐ neur, and early Dallas pioneer. He purchased 60 acres in Dallas County in the late 1800’s. The Park today sits on part of that land he pur‐ chased. The park also features a soccer field and walking trails.
Hamilton Park—Dallas This park was named for Dr. Richard T Hamilton, a physician and black civic leader. Hamilton Park has great areas for picnick‐ ing, fishing, playing tennis and much more. Hamilton Park is al‐ so the name of a small North Dallas neighborhood, also named a er Dr. Richard Hamilton. Mar n Luther King Jr Park and Community Center — Fort. Worth This park is named a er Mar‐ n Luther King Jr. He was a minister, ac vist, humanitarian, and leader of the African American Civil Rights movement. He is best known for advancing civil rights using nonvio‐ lent civil disobedience. The community center offers a number of classes, an a er school program, and frequent community events. Mae Simmons Park—Lubbock Mae Simmons was a Lubbock edu‐ cator during the middle 1900’s. She was an inspira on to all children as she now has a community center, swimming pool, and park named in her honor. The park was dedicated to Simmons in 1963.
Mar n Luther King Jr Park—San An‐ tonio This 116 acre park is also named a er MLK Jr the civil rights ac vist. It includes a pool, playground, volley‐ ball courts, basketball courts, a so ‐ ball field, and two tennis courts.
Please contact USTA Texas if there are any parks that need to be added to the list. Contact Hank Hlavaty at
[email protected] Park Name
City
Address
Rosewood Park
Aus n
1182 North Pleasant Valley Road
Barbara Jordan Park
Houston
6400 Winfield Road
Chris a V. Adair Park
Houston
15107 Cullen Boulevard
Anderson Bonner Park
Dallas
Dallas, TX 75251
Hamilton Park
Dallas
9779 Forest Lane
Mar n Luther King Jr. Park
Fort Worth
5565 Truman Drive
Finnigan Park
Houston
4900 Providence Street
Mae Simmons Park
Lubbock
2004 Oak Avenue
Mar n Luther King Jr. Park
San Antonio
3505 Mar n Luther King Drive