Product Description
With every powerful serve and deft ground stroke, with every graceful volley and determined charge to the net, black tennis players, from Hall of Famers Althea Gibson, Arthur Ashe, Evonne Goolagong, and Yannick Noah to future legends James Blake and the sisters Venus and Serena Williams, have forced open the sport's shuttered gates and demanded to be acknowledged. In Charging the Net, Cecil Harris and Larryette Kyle-DeBose draw on personal interviews and extensive research to chronicle the triumphs-and humiliations-of blacks in professional tennis from the 1940s to the present. For many fans and writers, Ashe, Gibson, and the Williams sisters personify black achievement in tennis, but others have made their mark. Charging the Net spotlights a wide range of competitors as well as the American Tennis Association, an organization that thrived despite racial segregation, thanks to such benefactors as Dr. R. Walter Johnson. The book will also introduce readers to two black officials whose success was short-lived; both have sued the United States Tennis Association, alleging discrimination based on race, gender, and age. Harlem-trained, Harvard-educated James Blake, who overcame career-threatening injuries to achieve World Top Ten status, has written a foreword to Charging the Net. The afterword is written by Robert Ryland, the first black to compete in a major college tournament, who later found the doors to tennis's premier venues marked Whites Only. With a clear vision, Ryland, the eighty-six-year-old coach, now looks at how far blacks in tennis have come and how far they have yet to travel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

incredible book
congradulations to the Williams sisters winning at WImbledon together and for them battling against one another for the championship.this Book is a Must read for the tennis fan in general and also from a basic rights and understanding of the history of Blacks in tennis. this book is very in depth and is a note for note line for line read. very informative. a must have.

Charging The Net
I found it a very informative and wonderful book to read.I really learned a lot about the history of Black tennis pros.I would definetely recommend for everyone to read this book.

Its lively presentation blends civil rights issues with tennis sports world insights.
CHARGING THE NET: A HISTORY OF BLACKS IN TENNIS provides a fine survey of the major black figures in tennis who forced the sport to integrate. Personal interviews and in-depth research details the challenges blacks faced in entering professional status in the tennis world, with chapters surveying the achievements of individuals, teams, and organizations alike. This is a top pick not just for sports libraries, but for any general-interest collection strong in integration issues and sports. Its lively presentation blends civil rights issues with tennis sports world insights. ... Read more

Product Description
Written in a lively, readable style, this book profiles two women who broke new ground in tennis. Alice Marble (1913-1990) became the first woman to play "power tennis, " and by 1939 had won several Wimbledon titles. Althea Gibson (1927- ) broke the racial "color line" in tennis by entering many previously white-only tournaments, and became the first black person to win both the U.S. Open and Wimbledon competitions. ... Read more

Product Description
On Althea Gibson, America's first African American tennis champion:

"I am grateful to Althea Gibson for having the strength and courage to break through the racial barriers in tennis. She knocked down walls that gave us more freedom to concentrate on the game. . . . Althea's accomplishments set the stage for my success, but she also made a difference for people of all backgrounds in all areas. Through beneficiaries like me, Serena, and many others to come, her legacy will live on."
-Venus Williams

"She just meant so much to me. I've always felt connected to her and thankful and grateful for what she's done for people of color and me."
-Billie Jean King

"Althea built many bridges over her seventy-six years on this earth to ease our crossing. . . . She fought the good fight, she finished her course, she kept her faith, and she can rest-game, set, and match."
-David Dinkins
former mayor of New York City

"It was the quiet dignity with which Althea carried herself during the turbulent days of the 1950s that was truly remarkable. . . . When she began playing, less than five percent of tennis newcomers were minorities. Today, some thirty percent are minorities, two-thirds of whom are African American. This is her legacy."
-Alan Schwartz
President, U.S. Tennis Association ... Read more

Product Description
ALTHEA IS NOTHING BUT TROUBLE! Everyone agrees: her mama, her daddy, her teacher, even the policeman. But when Buddy Walker, the play leader on Althea's street in Harlem, watches her play paddle tennis, he sees something more: pure possibility. Buddy buys Althea her very own stringed tennis racket, and before long, she's on her way to becoming a great athlete - and to proving that she's more than just trouble.

Althea Gibson, born in 1927, was the first African American ever to compete in and win the Wimbledon Cup. Sue Stauffacher's lively text, paired with vibrant paintings by artist Greg Couch, captures the exuberance, ambition, and triumph of this remarkable woman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great story
It's always good for kids to read about flawed heroes. Nobody really, deep down, wants to read about some guy whose only "flaw" is that they didn't brush their teeth before breakfast.

Althea Gibson, as the title should make clear, has bigger flaws. As a kid, she was a petty thief. She didn't attend class. She stayed out late. And when she was given an opportunity and people fell all over themselves to help her, all she could do is say she didn't come to work on her *manners*, just her *sports*.

She is fun to read about, that's for sure. And the triumph of being the first black person to win a Grand Slam (along with her partner, the first Jewish person to do the same) is sweeter for all that we learn that working on her self control helped with that.

There's a nice afterword in the end with more information, including names of her own autobiographies.

The one thing about this book I'm not to sure of is the artwork. Throughout the book, Althea is drawn with a wave of rainbow colors around her and following her. It does convey movement and all... but it also looks a little strange. I'm not sure what I think about it yet.

Althea doesn't like rules - but she doesn't like to lose either.
Sue Strauffacher's NOTHING BUT TROUBLE: THE STORY OF ALTHEA GIBSON (9780375834080, $16.99) tells of a girl who is 'nothing but trouble' - but Althea doesn't care what they say; she knows she's destined for fame - and so does recreation leader Buddy, who watches her athletic skills improve and who introduces her to the game of tennis. Althea doesn't like rules - but she doesn't like to lose either. Her determination will lead her to become the first Afro-American to compete for and win the Wimbleton Cup in this fine biographical story of a winner.

With a capital T
I'm not ashamed to say it. Say the name "Althea Gibson" to me a month ago and you'd have met a blank stare. Say it to me now, however, and you may suffer the indignity of finding me thrusting Sue Stauffacher's newest picture book, "Nothing but Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson," into your arms while screaming into your ears its high points. This might be so bad either if the book only had a high-point here or there, but the fact of the matter is that "Althea Gibson" is ALL high points. It's a rip-roaring, snorting, fast and frenzied, well-researched, reiterated, illustrated, formulated bit of picture book biography magnificence. With the author of the "Donuthead" books on the one hand and soon-to-be-recognized-for-his-magnificence artist Greg Couch filling in the necessary art, "Althea Gibson" has everything you could possibly want going for it. It's fun. It's funny. It's smart and interesting, and has a flawed heroine you can't help but want to know more about. If your young child is looking for a biography of a woman and you don't know where to turn, I can't think of a better book available to you. There's something about Althea.

Ask anyone. Ask her mama her daddy her teacher or the cop down the street that busted her for petty theft. They'll all tell you the same: That Althea Gibson is nothing but trouble. More comfortable tearing up the playground in the 1930s than sitting at a desk in school, Althea has a reputation for recklessness. None of that is enough to scare off play leader Buddy Walker, however. When he sees Althea play sports, he can only see raw talent and untapped potential. With his guidance and the help of the Sugar Hill's ritzy tennis court "The Cosmopolitan", Althea is given the chance to improve her style. Problem is, she has a hard time with being polite, following the rules, and not punching out her fellow players' lights. It takes time and patience and self-control to make Althea the best she can possibly be, but by 1957 she becomes the first African-American to win at Wimbledon. And though she could hog all the credit for herself, Ms. Gibson gives full credit to that amazing Buddy Walker who had the smarts to become her mentor.

It's always more interesting to read about a flawed hero. Perfect people do not a fascinating story make. Maybe that's why the trend in children's biographies lately has been to tell the tale of those men and women who weren't made of solid gold from birth onwards. Between Kathleen Krull's, "Isaac Newton", Laura Amy Schlitz's, The Hero Schliemann: The Dreamer Who Dug For Troy and now Stauffacher's, "Nothing but Trouble," biographies for kids are getting better and better with every coming year. The nice thing about Althea is that for all her pouts and ill-manners, she's shown here to be someone who could conquer the world if she just applied a little self-control. As Buddy tells her at one point, "You've got to decide, Althea. Are you going to play your game, or are you going to let the game play you? When I go to the jazz club, I play like a tiger, but I wear a tuxedo." Stauffacher draws much of her dialogue out of Althea's biographies I Always Wanted to Be Somebody and So Much to Live For. Even without such lines, however, the author knows how to put a good story together. This plot is carefully crafted. From the timeline in the back (written on tennis balls, no less) to the great opening line, ("Althea Gibson was the tallest, wildest tomboy in the history of Harlem") to the thin slices of her life, Stauffacher does a stand up job. As Althea's biographer she prefers to concentrate on the role of Buddy Walker, even mentioning in her Author's Note that "Though this is Althea's story it is also Buddy Walker's story." The result is that this tale comes off as a tribute to mentors everywhere. To those people that see potential in certain kids and do what they can to bring such potential to light. And that is the nature of an entirely different kind of hero.

Flying just below the radar is illustrator Greg Couch. Ms. Stauffacher may have the wherewithal, wit, and smarts to think to bring Althea's life to the page, but it is Mr. Couch's illustrations that truly deserve attention here. Couch has taken a story that could have been accompanied by staid, simple drawings and instead imbued them with a kind of electricity. Althea doesn't just leap off the page here. She crackles and snaps with an energy you don't usually encounter on your average picture book bio. Couch has chosen to clothe Althea in a hyperactive rainbow that zigs and zags with the girl's every movement and leap. Parents and teachers presenting this book to kids can ask them what they think this rainbow really means. And hopefully they'll notice that when Buddy plays the saxophone (as he did in his own jazz band) the same rainbow colors come out of the instrument. Plus the fact that these rainbows are the sole spot of color against a sepia-tinged background of old photos and scenes from the 30s, 40s and 50s is a nice touch as well. And when, at last, you see Althea win her Wimbledon, she is surrounded at her acceptance speech by a rainbow that has aged and changed from pure primary colors to subtler hues. I also appreciate that there is nothing anachronistic going on in this book. Every picture feels like it has stepped out of history.

A co-worker of mine felt somewhat disappointed that the book ends as suddenly as it does. One minute Althea is learning the benefits of playing by the rules (while maintaining her fire) and the next she's won Wimbledon and the story's over. I think this is less a flaw of this specific book than of the picture book biography format in general. You can't linger on a year here or there, however much you might want to. And honestly, this is a book worth discovering. Stauffacher and Couch have found something to say about Althea that hasn't yet been said in the realm of children's literature and their passion in bringing Althea's passion to life is worth taking note of. So stand back now. I'm going to say something and I'm going to say it loud. This book not only pairs well with Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull, it may have supplanted it in my brain as my new favorite picture book sports biography. A must read pick. ... Read more

Product Description
Althea Gibson first met Angela Buxton at an exhibition match in India. On the surface, the two women could not have been more different. The daughter of sharecroppers, Gibson was born in the American South and grew up in Harlem. Angela Buxton, the granddaughter of Russian Jews, was raised in England, where her father ran a successful business. But both women encountered prejudice, particularly on the tennis circuit, where they were excluded from tournaments and clubs because of race and religion.

Despite their athletic prowess, both Gibson and Buxton were shunned by the other female players at Wimbledon in 1956 and found themselves without doubles partners. Undaunted, they chose to play together and ultimately triumphed. In The Match, which has been hailed as an "important contribution in spreading the legacy of Gibson,"* Bruce Schoenfeld delivers not only the little-known history of Gibson's life but also the inspiring story of two underdogs who refused to let bigotry stop them -- on the court and off. Here, too, is an homage to a remarkable friendship.

*Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Trying to be Somebody
Back about 1960, as a preteen, I came across a paperback copy of Althea Gibson's autobiography, "I Always Wanted to Be Somebody."Books like these are why we read: to learn about a world and lives outside of ourselves, and thus [indirectly] learn about ourselves; to discover heroes & heroines, those who strove against adversity to achieve.This book was my first exposure to tennis [going on to play on the tennis team at school], and my first exposure to the struggle for equal rights.I haven't reread it in 40 years, but its lessons still reverberate.

Thus I was excited to find this book, and read it full of anticipation.The first part of the book is excellent: you get a feel for the narrow [and unprofitable, by today's standards] world which tennis occupied in the 50s; and you get a sense of how a narrow, specialized world reflects the biases of the larger world.The struggles of Angela Buxton and Althea Gibson to be accepted as players, as well as accepted as individuals, are very vivid.When we despair of the slow progress of accepting diversity, we should re-view the world of 50 years ago and note our progress.The part of the book describing the youthful lives and struggles of these two women is compelling.

After that, I felt that the book fell apart.Schoenfeld did some excellent research, but his writing became pedantic.The descriptions of the tennis matches are accurate, but lifeless.And the "after life", once they left tennis, is cursorily treated: 40 years in about as many pages.While bemoaning the fact that they were ignored by the tennis world, wasn't he doing the same thing?

I think you will be moved by the first half of the book.

Not quite a book
It seemed a stretch to make the relationship between Gibson and Buxton the focal point of the book, since the relationship was spotty... It would have made (and perhaps did at one point) a good article.

At the same time, while the book displayed well Gibson's personality at certain points, I would have been interested in learning more about this elusive and thorny character throughout her life---A fuller biography of this important figure would have been welcome.

Sporting and Courage Back in Time
This book takes the reader fully back to time we've forgotten, before sportswomen were millionaires at 14, and to two people who were remarkable for any time in history.The in-depth research on Althea and Angela not only reveals much of their amazing lives but gives us the true picture of the era, as well. I loved the stories of courage and friendship, the insights from competitors and family, and the excitement of the matches.Whether you read biographies or just love sports, this is the book to read!

Succeeds On Many Levels
In this one book, we get a picture of life in the 50s, tennis as it was before everyone turned pro, what it was like to be an outsider in the "genteel" country club world and the enigmatic personality of Althea Gibson who overcame seemingly impossible odds.The friendship between Gibson and Buxton is both touching, amusing and sad.You'll remember this book long after you finish the last page.

Fascinating
I thoroughly enjoyed this well written, funny, touching and historically fascinating book.The Match brings alive the early days of women's tennis, the friendship of Angela and Althea, and most interestingly the lack of opportunity and challanges Jewish and black players faced.Schoenfeld engages the reader with a great balance of these women's personal history in fascinating places and times (post-war London for Angela and Harlem for Althea)with exciting tennis moments. ... Read more

Product Description
Follows the life of the first black woman to win the tennis competition at Wimbledon. ... Read more

Product Description
Growing up in Harlem in the 1930s, Althea Gibson became tough and rebellious. Some said she was having trouble finding her way, until she was a teenager when she discovered she had a talent for sports. In fact, Althea was a natural at tennis, but tennis was played mostly by wealthy white people in country clubs that excluded African Americans. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Althea was not deterred. Instead, she set about becoming a barrier-breaking and world-famous athlete. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An inspirational tale of a positive role model.
Playing To Win: The Story of Althea Gibson is a children's picturebook biography of Althea Gibson, an African-American female tennis player from Harlem. Growing up in the 1930s, Althea discovered she had natural talent at tennis - but in that era, tennis was primarily a sport played at wealthy clubs that excluded African-Americans. But Althea refused to give up, and dedicated herself to becoming a record-setting, world-famous sportswoman. "In 1955 the U.S. government asked Althea to become a goodwill ambassador as part of a traveling tennis team. The team of two men and two women journeyed around the world playing tennis. It was the best thing that could have happened for Althea's career. It allowed her to play lots of tennis while touring Southeast Asia." An inspirational tale of a positive role model.

Althea Comes to Life for Children
Having seen Althea Gibson play at Forest Hills in the '50's, Ms. Deans' book brings her back to life, albeit in a child-like fashion, it would also appeal to anyone who remembers what a remarkable life Ms. Gibson lived (overcoming many white stereotyped obstacles) and how remarkable she was with a racquet in hand.The illustrations by Mr. Brown are exquisite, as well.

Can't wait for the next Karen Deans' book depicting any subject she chooses.

Playing to Win
This is a book for ALL Ages.I am a 'Tennis' Loving 'Grannie!, and found that this book was so entertaining, you can just visualize everything and hear the balls as they hit the racket!

I like the vernacular for which this book was written in, because it depicted a certain 'era' in her life.This books makes you laugh, as well as bring tears in ones eyes.All in all I think at least every "Grannie" should have it so that they can read it too their grand children.

~Enjoy!
... Read more

Product Description

With the help of friends who recognized her extraordinary talent, Althea Gibson rose from a childhood of playing stickball on Harlem streets to claim victory at Wimbledon. It is widely recognized that her sacrifices along the way paved the road for the successes of Venus and Serena Williams. But Althea's was a victory hard fought and painfully won.

She had no idea the turn her life would take when she met Angela Buxton at the French Indoor Championships. Despite her athletic prowess, Althea was shunned by the other female players. Her failing was her skin color. Angela, the granddaughter of Russian Jews, was also shunned. Her failing was her religion. Finding themselves without doubles partners, the pair decided to join forces, and together they triumphed, going on to win the 1956 championship at Wimbledon. The two women would become lifelong friends, and Angela would prove to be among Althea's greatest supports during her darkest times.

Gibson died in 2003, but her life and her contributions to tennis and race relations in the United States are well preserved in this valuable book. Bruce Schoenfeld delivers not only the true story of Gibson's life but also an inspiring account of two underdogs who refused to let bigotry win -- both on and off the courts.

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History, 2nd ed., brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 978 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.The Early Civilizations in the Americas Reference Library provides a comprehensive overview of the history of the regions of the American continents in which two of the world's first civilizations developed: Mesoamerica (the name for the lands in which ancient civilizations arose in Central America and Mexico) and the Andes Mountains region of South America (in present-day Peru and parts of Bolivia, northern Argentina, and Ecuador). In both regions, the history of civilization goes back thousands of years. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 960 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Signed essays ranging from 500 to 2,500 words, written by subject experts and edited to form a consistent, readable, and straightforward reference. Entries include subject-specific bibliographies and textual cross-references to related essays. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Notable Sports Figures, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 3099 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Takes a close look at the people in sports who have captured attention because of success on the playing field, or controversy off the playing field. This work features biographies on more than 600 people from around the world and throughout history who have had an impact not only on their sport, but also on the society and culture of their times. It also includes not only the record-breakers that dominated and changed their sport, but also the controversial figures that made headlines even apart from athletic events. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Newsmakers 2004 Cumulation, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 954 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Newsmakers provides timely and informative profiles of the world's most interesting people. Separate obituaries provide concise profiles of recently deceased newsmakers. ... Read more

Product Description
Althea Gibson overcame unbelievable odds to achieve International success and acclaim. Her journey from the violent streets of Harlem to the royal courts of Wimbledon reveals her strength of character and her remarkable composure in the face of racial prejudice. A pioneer in both amateur tennis and professional gold, Althea paved the way for the likes of Venus Williams and Tiger Woods. A documentary biography. 57 minutes. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from American Decades: Primary Sources, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 507 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.American Decades Primary Sources provides fresh insight into the decade's most important events, people, and issues. Entries representing a diversity of views that provide insight into the seminal issues, themes, movements and events from the decade. Also included are concise contextual information, notes about the author and further resources. American Decades Primary Sources includes chapters on the arts, medicine and health, media, education, world events, religion, government and politics, lifestyles and social trends, law and justice, religion, business and the economy, and sports. Included to provide unique perspectives and a wealth of understanding are first hand accounts that include oral histories, songs, speeches, advertisements, TV, play and movie scripts, letters, laws, legal decisions, newspaper articles, cartoonsand recipes. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from American Decades: Primary Sources, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 750 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.American Decades Primary Sources provides fresh insight into the decade's most important events, people, and issues. Entries representing a diversity of views that provide insight into the seminal issues, themes, movements and events from the decade. Also included are concise contextual information, notes about the author and further resources. American Decades Primary Sources includes chapters on the arts, medicine and health, media, education, world events, religion, government and politics, lifestyles and social trends, law and justice, religion, business and the economy, and sports. Included to provide unique perspectives and a wealth of understanding are first hand accounts that include oral histories, songs, speeches, advertisements, TV, play and movie scripts, letters, laws, legal decisions, newspaper articles, cartoonsand recipes. ... Read more