Honoring Althea Gibson: Preserving the Legacy of Black Tennis in Dallas

On August 9, 2025, two Dallas-based organizations, DFW Black Tennis and Black Girls in Art Spaces, joined forces to honor the life and legacy of Althea Gibson, the trailblazing athlete who broke tennis’ color barrier 75 years ago. The two-part series began with a documentary screening at the Dallas Public Library and concluded with an intimate dinner and panel discussion at the Courts of McKinney Tennis Center.

The event was more than just a celebration of Gibson’s accomplishments, the event became a bridge between history and the present, illuminating the importance of creating safe spaces for Black athletes and artists today.

Black Tennis Goes Beyond The Court

For Jasmine Henderson, co-founder of DFW Black Tennis, the program was deeply personal. Henderson, a lifelong player who competed at Tuskegee University, launched the organization in 2023 after realizing how rare it was to find other Black players in Dallas tennis communities.

“I wanted to create a safe space where people could know that there were Black people here playing tennis,” Henderson explained. “Black tennis isn’t new; we’ve always been here.”

Henderson’s words capture the spirit of the day. Gibson’s name is often overshadowed by Arthur Ashe, yet it was Gibson who became the first Black player, male or female, to compete in the U.S. Nationals. And it was Gibson who became the first Black player to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

Her elegance, athleticism, and sheer presence on the court were undeniable. At the same time, her life off the court was marked by hardship.

Gibson’s Off-Court Struggles Echoed Today

Denied financial opportunities that today’s champions take for granted, Gibson struggled with poverty and neglect later in life, a sobering reminder of how easily Black women can be celebrated in one era and forgotten in the next.

That layered reality is exactly why Kaci Merriwether-Hawkins, founder of Black Girls in Art Spaces, saw the event as so vital.

“I am moved by the stories of Black women and the multitude of layers that we have,” Hawkins said. “It’s easy to see these women who go off to do great things and only see them as that. But Althea Gibson was a Black woman who had her struggles, her joy, even her artistry. It’s a beautiful opportunity to share those layers with our community.”

Her words resonated throughout the evening. The film screening shed light on Gibson’s early years in the segregated world of the American Tennis Association, where she honed her skills under the mentorship of pioneers like Dr. Hubert Eaton and Dr. Robert Johnson. The panel discussion later expanded on that history, linking Gibson’s triumphs to the present challenges and opportunities for Black players in Texas tennis.

Leaving A Legacy

What emerged from the evening’s events was a fuller picture of Gibson not just as a champion, but as a cultural icon whose story speaks to resilience, identity, and the fight for access. Her victories in the 1950s opened doors, but her struggles after retirement highlight how systems often fail to sustain Black women after their moment in the spotlight fades.

The Dallas event placed these realities at the center of its discussion, creating space for reflection, conversation, and action. Attendees left with a deeper understanding that tennis is not just a pastime or trend, it is an extension of Black culture, history, and community.

By honoring Althea Gibson, the organizers reminded us that Black tennis is not new, and that its legacy continues to grow in places like Dallas, where new generations are reclaiming space on the court and in the arts.

In celebrating Gibson, DFW Black Tennis and Black Girls in Art Spaces affirmed a larger truth: that remembering the past is essential to shaping the future.