Alice Coachman was a famous Olympic high jumper. Coachman was an inspiration to many African American female athletes across the nation. After her victory at the 1948 Olympics, Alice Coachman became an advocate to all other African American female athletes who were struggling and having similar issues. After returning from her victories, she became a national figure. She delivered speeches to crowds that were segregated. “I made in difference among the blacks, being one of the leaders. If I had gone to the games and failed, there wouldn’t be anyone to follow in my footsteps. It encouraged the rest of the women to work harder and fight harder,” Coachman once said. Coachman helped to show how racially divided America was, and inspired more people to fix it.
The fight for African American female athletes to become equal of those with different colored skin was hard, but the blacks were determined. African American female athletes were always positive and worked hard regardless of the hate that they received. Black women athletes frequently got death threats. But, they ignored them and fought on for their equality. They worked hard to try and show how determined they were and to prove themselves. African American female athletes never gave up on the sport they they loved, even when they were surrounded with negativity. They achieved their goals because they never gave in to the hate and discrimination. African American athletes were very hopeful when it came to sports. They hoped that one day they could play on the same field as whites, and that they would not be segregated. Although African American female athletes were not provided with many opportunities, they worked hard to make sure that they were the best they could be.
Female athletes faced racism, discrimination, and sexism from countless numbers of people. In a tennis tournament, the Williams sisters were suppose to play each other in the semi-final match, but Venus had a leg injury that forced her to not play. Serena was defaulted to go to the final match. She was booed by the crowd when she walked on the court, was playing, and later at the awards ceremony. Richard Williams, the girls dad and manager, had also heard racist comments from crowds. Many talented African American female athletes from the 20th century did not get to compete professionally regardless of how skilled they were because whites did not want to share a team, coach, or field with them. An Olympic gymnast and medal holder, Gabby Douglas says “I was the only African-American at that gym, I definitely felt isolated. Why am I deserving this? Is it because I’m black? — those thoughts were going through my mind.” Race and gender are the biggest problems when it comes to female sports but, many overcame stereotype barriers and were determined to become a star athlete.
During the late nineteenth century and early to mid 20th century, almost all blacks were excluded from mainstream organizations and sports institutions, causing females to make their own sports teams. The new teams and organizations made by the African Americans expressed their culture in a unique way. It helped the blacks create a sense of community and spirit that they lacked with whites. Alice Coachman was a black female athlete and she did not have access to all the resources and training equipment needed to become a high jumper. So, she taught herself. She used materials such as ropes, sticks and rags to act as homemade hurdles. The African American sports organizations ran into the same problems due to lack of money and freedom to use nice recreational gyms and sports centers. No matter what problems these women were faced with, they overcame them.
Current Implications:
Many people believed America overcame discrimination, racism, and sexism, but that is not the case. These problems still show up in modern day sports with black female athletes. The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, who are professional and Olympic gold medalist in tennis still receive plenty of hate on and off the tennis court based on the color of their skin and gender. Another Olympic champion and gold medalist, Gabby Douglas, who won several medals for gymnastics at the 2012 Olympics also receives lots of hate and complaints. Not only does she receive hate for her race and gender, but also for being so successful at an impressive age of nineteen.