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John,
From Althea Gibson breaking barriers in the 1950s, to Arthur Ashe’s grace and power on and off the court, to Serena and Venus Williams redefining the game, Black players have not only transformed tennis, they’ve redefined what the sport can be.
That legacy is alive right now in Taylor Townsend, Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, Frances Tiafoe, and so many others. But even as they push the game forward, they are forced to endure attacks that echo centuries of racist stereotypes.
Just last week at the U.S. Open, after Taylor Townsend’s victory, Jelena Ostapenko told her she had “no class” and “no education.” As Naomi Osaka said, it’s one of the worst things you can say to a Black player in a majority white sport.
We know the truth: Taylor’s brilliance, discipline, and genius are undeniable. Black play matters and we must defend it whenever we can.
On her own U.S. Open journey, Naomi Osaka has come out with creative fun outfits, won against Coco Gauff in their first rematch since 2019, and is now in the semifinals for the first time since she won the title five years ago.
We also have to shout out Venus for being the second-oldest person to ever play singles in the U.S. Open. Her groundbreaking journey in tennis has broken down doors for a new generation of players like Naomi and Coco.
BLM is committed to uplifting Black athletes, telling our stories, and fighting back against the systems that try to erase us. But we can only do it together.
Make a donation of $10, $25, or $50 today to fuel our work to protect and uplift Black play.
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Every time a Black athlete takes the court, they bring with them centuries of survival, resistance, and joy. No insult, no stereotype, no racist attack can take that away. But it’s on us to make sure they don’t have to fight these battles alone.
Chip in today, and let’s keep building a future where Black excellence on and off the court gets the celebration it deserves.
In solidarity,
Black Lives Matter
Our grassroots movement is pushing for Black liberation every single day. We are striving to create a world where Black people do so much more than just survive. It’s time we thrive.
As an organization one of our biggest hurdles is consistency.
A recurring contribution of anything you can afford goes a long way as we plan for the months, years, and even decades ahead. This is the most effective way for small-dollar donors (like you) to power our Black liberation work.
Will you make a recurring contribution of $5 or more today so that we can keep building momentum for our movement?
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