We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
from Entries
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 March 2016
Born: July 10, 1943, Richmond, VA
Education: UCLA, B.A., 1966
Died: February 6, 1993, New York, NY
The first black winner of the men's US Open (1968), Australian Open (1970), and Wimbledon (1975), the latter ranking him Number One in the World, Ashe was inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame (1985). “Arthur grew up in segregated Virginia, and that set the tone for his passion,” his widow said. “It was not just that people should be the best they could be. It was also going back and helping communities ... move forward and be able to succeed” (New York Daily News, 2003).
Ashe embraced civil rights activism. When a heart disorder forced him to retire from tennis in 1979, he contracted HIV through surgery. Still, he achieved distinction as an author and lecturer; advocate of social justice and world peace; and activist in campaigns to end South African apartheid, American racism, sexism, and poverty. He donated a major share of his income to inner-city school programs as well as to AIDS research and education. A large sculpted statue of Ashe today stands on Richmond's Monument Avenue, which is reserved for Confederate war heroes. The statue's location sparked political controversy, but it was not relocated. It honors Ashe's “fight against racism in sports” and struggles for an integrated society.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
