As the father of Venus and Serena Williams, Richard Williams has been given a lot of attention by the media for the last decade. And every time the spotlight turns his way, he makes waves. He's claimed his daughters are the targets of racially motivated taunts in locker rooms and stadiums all around the women's tour, he's pulled his daughters from commitments and faced lawsuits and, generally, made sure that there was always as much attention paid to him as his kids. So, it should come as no surprise that his interview with a newspaper in India features plenty of things that will make your eyebrow raise. He blamed the media for Venus and Serena never experiencing Grand Slam success at the same time and then moved on to discuss racism in tennis.
Tennis is a prejudice game. Well, I'm Black and I'm prejudiced, very prejudiced. I'll be always prejudiced as the White man. The White man hated me all my life and I hate him. That's no secret. I'm not even an American, it just so happens that I was born in America. People are prejudiced in tennis. I don't think Venus or Serena was ever accepted by tennis. They never will be. But if you get some little White no good trasher in America like Tracy Austin or Chris Evert who cannot hit the ball, they will claim this is great.I won't begin to try and parse Williams's feelings about white people or America, we're all entitled to believe what we want, but he's wrong about his daughters.
Watch a woman's match now compared to a time before the Williams sisters came on the tour. There's no comparison. To succeed now, a woman must hit the ball harder, cover the court quicker and be capable of doing both at once. That's all because of how good the Williams sisters are and their impact on the game is undeniable.
Of course, that's got little to do with their race but with their ability. But it's hard to see how the color of their skin has limited them in comparison to other tennis players. Venus and Serena have endorsed McDonald's, Nike, Avon, Wrigley and American Express, among others, and, even when they struggled, remained two of the more popular players on the tour. The game suffers, in the U.S. anyway, when they aren't playing and tournaments and networks promote their involvement at every opportunity. The business of tennis hasn't just accepted them, it desperately needs them.
He's also wrong about Austin and Evert. Austin won two U.S. Opens and was ranked #1, both of which are worthy of esteem, and Evert won 18 Grand Slam titles. Yes, it was a different game and neither played anything resembling the current style of tennis but their achievements are what matter not the way in which they did it. Just as the Williams sisters should be applauded for their achievements even if we have to listen to their father as a result of them.
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Israel's Shahar Peer returns the ball to Virginie Razzano of France during their tennis match on the third day of the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Open WTA tournament in Doha on February 20, 2008. Peer won 6-1, 7-6 (7/3). AFP PHOTO/KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
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Israel's Shahar Peer returns the ball to Virginie Razzano of France during their tennis match on the third day of the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Open WTA tournament in Doha on February 20, 2008. Peer won 6-1, 7-6 (7/3). AFP PHOTO/KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
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Patty Schnyder of Switzerland (R) shakes hands with Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia after their tennis match on the third day of the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Open WTA tournament in Doha on February 20, 2008. Cibulkova won 6-3, 6-4. AFP PHOTO/KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
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Patty Schnyder of Switzerland returns to Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia during their tennis match on the third day of the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Open WTA tournament in Doha on February 20, 2008. Cibulkova won 6-3, 6-4. AFP PHOTO/KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
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Patty Schnyder of Switzerland returns to Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia during their tennis match on the third day of the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Open WTA tournament in Doha on February 20, 2008. Cibulkova won 6-3, 6-4. AFP PHOTO/KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
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Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia celebrates after winning a match against Patty Schnyder of Switzerland during the third day of the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Open WTA tournament in Doha on February 20, 2008. Cibulkova won 6-3, 6-4. AFP PHOTO/KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
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Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia returns to Patty Schnyder of Switzerland during their tennis match on the third day of the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Open WTA tournament in Doha on February 20, 2008. Cibulkova won 6-3, 6-4. AFP PHOTO/KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
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Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia returns to Patty Schnyder of Switzerland during their tennis match on the third day of the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Open WTA tournament in Doha on February 20, 2008. Cibulkova won 6-3, 6-4. AFP PHOTO/KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
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Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia returns to Patty Schnyder of Switzerland during their tennis match on the third day of the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Open WTA tournament in Doha on February 20, 2008. Cibulkova won 6-3, 6-4. AFP PHOTO/KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 36)
1. I just can't figure some people out. African Americans seem to like to cry racism about anything and yet it is the defesnse that they love to fall back on whever asked about any problem in the world or in sports. I am not saying that racism doesn't exist in this world, it does, but one of the reasons it does not die is that the African Amercians themselves love to use it every chance they get. Both Venus and Serena are great tennis players, it is a real shame that their father is a racist jerk who seems to hate America. After all, it is only the country that made him and his daughters filthy rich
Posted at 2:27PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Dennis
2. williams family are trash and ignorant-
losers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 2:47PM on Mar 20th 2008 by gbmoseley
3. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the National Voting Rights Act of 1965 finally ended the Jim Crow era and the sad legacy of institutionalized racism in America. Unfortunately, the feelings generated by this history will continue to raise their ugly head as long as those who had to suffer under the Jim Crow regieme are still alive. Healing can take generations. For Venus born 1980 and Serena born 1981 this story is part of ancient history, but for Richard born 1942, I am sure that that era is alive and burned into the hard drive of his memory. For his daughter's and eventual granddaughters sake, he needs to move on. Times have changed and he and his daughters are now on top. When you are on top many people will be jealous of you and you are the subject of a lot of criticism and scrutiny. The problem is that he is still seeing everything through the lens of "racism" instead the lens of "we are on top"ism."
He should take a page from Nelson Mandela's playbook, no doubt one of the great heros of the last century. He certainly had as much claim to bitterness about racism as Richard Williams, but he has chosen the hign road and consequently has helped millions move on with their lives.
For the sake of his daughters and family he needs maybe to get some counselling. And with all of their money, there is no excuse for any of their family members to still be living in a dangerous place like Compton, California.
Posted at 3:51PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Dirk de Young
4. Gee, I was just starting to come around to like black folks, tiger seems nice and I actually really started liking venus,,guess i was wrong,,if dick williams hates me, guess i should hate him and since he hates all white people, i suppose i need to returnthe favor and hate all black people,,oh yeah,,all that stuff that happened a coupl eof hundred years ago is VERY relevent in today's society,,i have to get off the computer now so I can go tell my kids to hate blacks too
Posted at 3:57PM on Mar 20th 2008 by James
5. Williams is a scum sucking racist pig! This will forever tarnish his daughters' legacy. How unfair that they were genetically linked to this piece of filthy crap.
Posted at 4:27PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Buzz
6. Richard Williams is a joke. But some people on this blog are just as bad. They are the ones he is talking about. Why prove him right?
Steve- "paddle his canoe back to Africa"
Gbmose- "williams family are trash and ignorant"
ALford "I don't like being called cracker, when I'm called that I will respond n*gger.
Thank you Dirk for your comment.
Lets elevate the ideas and isolate the racists, black and white.
Posted at 4:30PM on Mar 20th 2008 by LB
7. BOO HOO....Another cry of racism by another millionaire...Im shocked....LOL.....Mr.Williams you are pathetic...get over it!!
Posted at 4:42PM on Mar 20th 2008 by b.m
8. If blacks don't like it here in America, they can all leave and never come back!
Posted at 4:43PM on Mar 20th 2008 by rhednek
9. Maybe Williams and Rev.Wright Obama's pastor should get together on a boat back to africa!
Posted at 4:45PM on Mar 20th 2008 by rhednek
10. in the words of rodney king...cant we all just get along...
Posted at 4:46PM on Mar 20th 2008 by jerrey
11. I bet if he's eligible to vote, He'll be voting for Obama.
Posted at 4:46PM on Mar 20th 2008 by george
12. This is all so frustrating for a thirty-something white person. I'm a kind person; I treat everyone I meet with the respect that they as individuals earn from me. I've never owned a slave, never made someone give up their bus seat for me, never uttered the "N" word, and never denied anyone equal standing with me in any situation. And nonetheless, people hate me because of the color of my skin. So, once and for all, I'd like to say to all of the black people out there...Listen up... I'm SORRY!!!! I can't undo the past, I don't know how--beyond just being equitable to all--to change the future. Please, please for all of our children's sake, just accept the apology and let's move on together. Please....
Posted at 4:47PM on Mar 20th 2008 by melissa
13. he is a bit to much but he is right about white folks to a degree but then again everyone is a bit racist so that is nothing new am latino and i know but you have to make the most for yourself and move on as far as whites yah i dont like them but i do the same they do to all people of color i smile in there face you have to use your head mr williams and who ever do like my comment f**** u truth hurts
Posted at 4:52PM on Mar 20th 2008 by joe
14. Teach your children well.
Posted at 4:52PM on Mar 20th 2008 by ME
15. This old man carries a lot of personal baggage. Why even run a story like this? I was held up by black punks at knifepoint as a kid ... but I dont judge all blacks by their actions. I played sports and found that that was the real level playing field because color really doesnt matter. I doubt there is racial prejudice amongst the athletes. Far as the fans go ... hey there are ignorant people all over the place and the father is one of them.....
Posted at 4:53PM on Mar 20th 2008 by zzwhale
16. Williams is a racist pig. He's upset cuz his daughters are so ugly.
Posted at 4:53PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Dad
17. richard williams has said it for the last 10-15 years that there is racism in tennis.likely it goes on under the radar but eva bertoli made not so subtle a few years ago toward venus.unfortunately my belief in richard williams has diminished lately and this article is the last straw.this article being published in india is the last desparate acts of a man looking for attention.
Posted at 4:56PM on Mar 20th 2008 by mikethevol
18. ITS LINCOLNS FAULT !
Posted at 4:56PM on Mar 20th 2008 by mike Hunt
19. It is time to get over this racism outcry, we are sick of it.If you want to hear racism listen to Obama's Pastor.
Posted at 4:56PM on Mar 20th 2008 by teamsprtcncpts
20. I don't understand why is it that the majority[not all of them]of black people believe that they deserve everything in this life.We all have to earn what we want white,blacks,hispanics,etc.Lets all try to live together in harmony instead of all these stupid racial remarks.
Posted at 4:56PM on Mar 20th 2008 by nicholassammy94