Women's History Month intends to honor, inspire, educate, unite and promote women in the face of forces intent on subjugating and silencing them. It is about those who overcame overt and imbedded assumptions and prejudice to be their best selves. RGB said it well:
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.”
DAY 24: SERENA WILLIAMS
(Image from Wikipedia Commons)
THE dominant force in singles tennis. THE dominant force in women's doubles tennis with her sister Venus. Serena transformed women's tennis in the same way Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods transformed their sports, with new displays of power and grace.
Born in 1981, Serena started playing tennis at age four, coached and home schooled by her parents. Entered a tennis academy at age nine, with the requirement that she and her sister be allowed to "be little girls".
At age ten, despite having a 46-3 record on the junior tour, the family stopped sending her to national tournaments so they could "go slowly" and focus adequately on school. Many questioned the decision, to which her father said that everyone does things different, and that it made sense for them.
Her first professional event was at age 14. By 16, she was gaining recognition for beating highly ranked players like Monica Seles and Mary Pierce. By 17, she had her first professional win. By the time she retired at age 41, Serena had a career record of 858 wins and 156 losses. She had amassed 23 singles major titles, including holding all four at one time twice, and 73 overall. She and her sister Venus won 22 out of 23 doubles competitions they entered together.
Serena stood up for what she believed was just. When her father received racial slurs at the mandatory World Tennis Organization Pacific Life Open, she and her sister boycotted the event for 14 years. Her return coincided in partnership with the Equal Justice League, a non-profit that provides legal representation to those potentially denied a fair trial. She has been the ambassador for the Purple Purse Project, which financially empowers domestic abuse victims, and has leant her time and resources to many more organizations that support and benefit the socially and physically abused.
She has been generous in giving back to communities the world over, and a strong advocate for equal rights for all.
Intelligent. Powerful. Compassionate. She's been a blessing and role model for all.
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