Althea Gibson - HISTORY

Althea Gibson was a trailblazer in the enormously segregated sport of tennis. Find out more about her achievements and influence in this video.

FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

RELATED CONTENT

Live coverage at Wimbledon in 1957 captures Althea Gibson's victory. Gibson was the first African-American woman to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals.

In a This Day in History video, learn that on July 6, 1942, thirteen year-old Anne Frank went into hiding in Amsterdam. It was World War II and across Europe Nazis were shipping Jews to concentration camps. Anne and her family took refuge in a hidden room in the building of Otto Frank's office. Anne took her diary with her and recorded her experience. But in 1944, the Franks were discovered; Anne and all her family, except her father, perished in concentration camps. But the Diary of Anne Frank gave voice to the six million Jews who were silenced in the Holocaust.

Controversial crusader Marcus Garvey was determined to see African people take pride in and ownership of their race. Find out more about this legendary organizer in this video.

Born a slave, Booker T. Washington became one of the most celebrated educators and orators in the world. Find out more about his life and work in this video.

On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. A commentary on the ruling explores the differing theories on integration at the time.

Find out how Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech became an impromptu addition to the March on Washington.

CLOSE

CLOSE

CLOSE

CLOSE