Podcast Summary: "Althea Gibson Trains for Glory (Full Bio)"

Podcast: All Of It with Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Episode Date: February 20, 2024
Guest: Sally Jacobs, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson

Episode Overview

This episode is part of the Full Bio series, focusing on Black History Month and the remarkable life of Althea Gibson—a trailblazing African American athlete from Harlem who broke color barriers in tennis and golf. Alison Stewart and Sally Jacobs delve into the community of mentors who nurtured Gibson, the personal struggles she faced navigating class, gender, and racial obstacles, and her rise to become the first Black tennis player to win major championships like Wimbledon, the French Open, and the US Open.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Village” That Raised Althea Gibson

• Althea’s Social Support Network: Jacobs describes how Gibson, a self-identified “wild child” and high school dropout, needed guidance both on and off the court.

• Role of Rhoda Smith (03:03):

  • A prominent member of the American Tennis Association (ATA) in Harlem, Smith provided Althea with emotional and material support, acting as a surrogate mother and chaperone at tournaments.
  • Quote: “Rhoda would go and buy her underclothes, get her a warm coat, you a step in, mom...” – Sally Jacobs (03:46)

• Sugar Ray Robinson’s Support (04:24):

  • The famed boxer bonded with Gibson over a bowling match, eventually buying her a saxophone and welcoming her into his family circle.
  • Quote: “He comes to be very fond of her... He and his wife, again, kind of take her on. She travels with them... She’s allowed to drive his car, even though she doesn’t have a license.” – Sally Jacobs (04:54)

2. Mentorship of Dr. Hubert Eaton & Dr. Robert Johnson (The Doctors)

• Discovery & Decision (05:37):

  • Both doctors played pivotal roles in nurturing Gibson's tennis and personal development, despite initial doubts about her rough edges and even her gender presentation.
  • Eaton and Johnson attended ATA tournaments and eventually decided to support Gibson, helping her finish school and training her on their personal courts.

• Life on the Tournament Circuit (06:50):

  • The doctors not only coached her but also ferried her to tournaments across the segregated South, adapting to Jim Crow-era restrictions (e.g., sleeping in cars, not allowed in hotels/restaurants).
  • Quote: “Of course, they weren’t allowed to sleep in any hotels, eat in any restaurants. So life really happened in that car.” – Sally Jacobs (08:14)

• Gibson’s Public Thanks (08:36):

  • Notable Moment: A heartfelt audio clip of Gibson herself thanking Dr. Johnson and Dr. Eaton after a major victory—
    "It was through Dr. Johnson’s unselfish contributions which made it possible for me to travel around the USA... And Dr. H.A. Eaton... in whose home I received love, encouragement, and a great deal more while... finishing high school..." – Althea Gibson (08:36)

3. Breaking the Color Barrier: The Strategic Push

• Integrating Tennis - ATA vs. USLTA (10:25):

  • Dr. Eaton, motivated by both civil rights and tennis, worked to get Gibson tournament wins as a prerequisite for breaking into White-majority tournaments.
  • The USLTA made integration difficult by requiring stringently “proven” Black players.

• Why The Investment? (Leap of Faith, 11:18):

  • The doctors’ choice to back a young woman was unusual and risky, given that most expected the “pioneer” would be male.
  • Quote: “I think really kind of the chemistry of who she was... this was the gamble they decided to take.” – Sally Jacobs (11:55)

4. How Althea Responded to Coaching—On and Off Court

• Emotional and Social Development (12:14):

  • Gibson had difficulty with criticism, tending to get quiet or withdrawn when playing poorly. Dr. Eaton recognized it as her drive for excellence.

• Cultivating Manners & Demeanor (12:58):

  • Both doctors emphasized personal comportment, with Dr. Johnson strictly instructing on etiquette at shared meals and on-court behavior—including the importance of remaining silent when disputing calls.
  • Quote: “You just keep right on going and stay quiet. And that's what they did.” – Sally Jacobs (13:40)

• Home Training (14:09):

  • The segment highlights the depth of mentorship, emphasizing traditional “home training” as essential for success within and beyond tennis.

5. Education as Empowerment

• Why College Mattered (14:36):

  • The doctors insisted Gibson finish high school and attend college (Florida A&M), believing in developing the "whole person"—vital since amateur sports at the time did not offer financial security.

• Student Life at FAMU (15:26):

  • Gibson, older than her peers and allowed certain privileges (shooting pool in the men's dorm, skipping cafeteria lines), was both admired and somewhat isolated.

6. Being a “First”: Barriers of Race, Gender, and Class

• Racial Obstacles (17:46):

  • Gibson encountered open racism, from slurs to exclusion from facilities, and sometimes resentment even within the Black community.

• Competitive Edge (18:11):

  • Her aggressive style and physical prowess, particularly her net play and overhand, set her apart in talent, but foot faults and rough playing style required refinement.

• Contemporaries & Competition (18:51):

  • Notable Black peers included Reginald Weir and the Peter sisters, formidable players Gibson had to surpass.

7. Confronting Intersecting Barriers

• Race Example (20:01):

  • On a trip through the Jim Crow South, Gibson and teammates were threatened at gunpoint at a gas station for being Black after dark (“sundown towns”).
  • Quote: “...the owner comes barreling out... with a gun in his hands, puts it at Althea’s head. She’s sitting in the passenger seat. And he says, n-word, get the hell out of here.” – Sally Jacobs (20:40)

• Gender Complexity (21:56):

  • Confusion over Gibson's gender due to a mistaken birth certificate created ongoing issues, including when she applied to the Women’s Army. Eventually, her legal gender was corrected; however, she withdrew her application after more exams were requested.
  • Quote: “I think there was a problem there, and Althea decided not to confront it. She stopped applying. She dropped her application. End of story.” – Sally Jacobs (23:28)

• Enduring Class Barriers (24:04):

  • Even after reaching elite tennis, Gibson encountered snobbery and backlash, exemplified by hate mail sent to Wimbledon champion Lew Hoad when he danced with her.
  • Quote: “There was just a lot of rage against her for breaking these barriers. I don’t think she ever knew about all those letters, but certainly Hoad and his wife did and they were shocked and horrified.” – Sally Jacobs (24:50)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Althea’s Gratitude (08:36):
  “...it was through Dr. Johnson’s unselfish contributions which made it possible for me to travel around the USA ... and Dr. H.A. Eaton, in whose home I received love, encouragement, and a great deal more while... finishing high school...” – Althea Gibson

• On Home Training & Etiquette (13:20):
  “Every meal, they would sit around the table, and he would show them how to use the right spoon, the right fork... Some things that Althea had never heard of before... And one of his major lessons for them was if the ball goes out... you keep your mouth shut. You don’t say, ‘Oh, no, no, that was in.’ You just keep right on going and stay quiet.” – Sally Jacobs

• On Facing Racism & Danger (20:40):
  “The owner comes barreling out of the front door with a gun in his hands, puts it at Althea’s head. She’s sitting in the passenger seat. And he says, n-word, get the hell out of here.” – Sally Jacobs

• On Gender and Identity (23:28):
  “I think there was a problem there, and Althea decided not to confront it. She stopped applying. She dropped her application. End of story.” – Sally Jacobs

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:03] Who was Rhoda Smith and her support for Althea Gibson
• [04:24] Sugar Ray Robinson’s relationship with Althea Gibson
• [05:37] The mentorship of Dr. Eaton & Dr. Johnson
• [08:36] Althea Gibson’s public thanks to her mentors
• [10:25] Dr. Eaton’s hopes for Black tennis and the integration struggle
• [12:14] Gibson’s challenges with coaching
• [12:58] Importance of etiquette and demeanor in tennis
• [14:36] The doctors’ insistence on Gibson’s education
• [15:26] Gibson's college experience at FAMU
• [17:46] Beginning of Gibson’s “firsts” and her experiences with racism
• [20:01] Vivid example of racism in the South
• [21:56] Complicated story of gender and its implications
• [24:04] How class and racism continued to create barriers even at the height of success

Conclusion

This episode provides a deeply humanizing look at Althea Gibson, illuminating not just her groundbreaking accomplishments but the full complexity of her journey. It’s a story about individual determination, mentorship, and the persistent, intertwined barriers of race, gender, and class in American sports and society. The conversation sets up further discussion in the series, promising to explore Gibson’s relationship with the press and her civil rights legacy.