BBC HomeExplore the BBC
This page was last updated in July 2006We've left it here for reference.More information


Accessibility help
Text only
BBC Homepage
BBC Music


Contact Us

Like this page?
Send it to a friend!

 
Last updated:
1XTRA NEWS: THE REAL TALK OF THE STREETS
Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe
Speaker
Venus Williams says he paved the way for her to play tennis...
It's 30 years since the first black man won Wimbledon - and he'd grown up in the racially divided South, barred from local tournaments.

Arthur Ashe busted a lot of racial barriers, and not only through winning tennis titles.

He was at the forefront of anti-apartheid struggles, and was a campaigner for Aids and Haitian refugees.

Find out more about the remarkable activist athlete.
Did you know about Arthur Ashe before? Who are your athletic heroes? Is there enough activism in sport these days?

Albert Gitonga
I first heard about Arther Ashe when he won Wimbledon, but he was a hero well before that. Defying the traditions of the time by taking on and beating the best.

Missy Cee
To me, Arthur Ashe is a hero.

Deon
For sport, black people have a lot of stars and role models to look up to. but unlike black music, people are to quick to forget the black stars who broke through racial divide to get there. maybe there should be a rememberance to show what they have done through the past or a film being made to show their story.

pria
ive known of arthur ashe sinc i started playin at about 4/5years. that was nearly 20 years ago. that man is hot property well was. he really pave the way especially for minorities in sports in tennis in particular i think. before him there was hardly any of any at all in the game . coool as

Raisah
I think activism is thought as being quite problematic in the 21st century. Many athletes concentrate on only their game and there aren't many athletes whom you can say you about their beliefs and what are important to them.

I think the sporting world has to be open to the fact athletes are people who know more than how to serve into the right corner. I think publicising more athletes such as Arthur Ashe will give young black people another good role model and will will raise awareness among new sporting legends.



Your Name:
Have Your Say:
Your Email:
Your Telephone:
Disclaimer: The BBC will put up as many of your comments as possible but we cannot guarantee that all e-mails will be published. The BBC reserves the right to edit comments that are published.




About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy