The role of religion in Serena Williams’ fight against racism

The 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams earned the world’s respect from the moment she burst onto the WTA scene, and for many, she became the greatest tennis player in history after more than 20 years of dominance. However, the former World No. 1 did not always enjoy unconditional support from the public.

From their debut on the Tour, Serena and her elder sister Venus Williams represented a turning point for Black players in tennis, ushering in a new era where diversity in the sport became more visible. Coming from a poor neighborhood in Compton, Serena had to navigate competing in a predominantly white sport.

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In a 2020 interview with Sky Sports, Serena Williams spoke about how she coped with racism and leaned on religion to get through difficult moments. "A lot of people don't know that in my whole life, I've had to deal with so many different challenges,” she said. “I've had to deal with a lot of inequality, I've had to deal with racism, and sadly, it's become, unfortunately, somewhat of a norm for people who have my skin colour."

"It is really unfortunate, but it's something I think that, systematically, we just have to ultimately deal with, and I shouldn't have let it become a norm," she added. "I, personally, am very God-fearing, and I believe in the Bible, and the one way that we can have peace and security is through God. I've taken solace in that, but it's sad that someone on my level has had to accept so many different things because of the colour of my skin.”

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Serena Williams has become a symbol of the fight against racism in sports, with her influence transcending tennis to establish her as one of the most remarkable female athletes in history. "It's hard. It's something that, unfortunately, has become normal for us. It's normal to go to different places and feel unaccepted. I entered a sport that was all white, and it definitely wasn't easy, looking back," she reflected in the interview.

"I was also very young and I just adapted. I wasn't there to be besties with anybody; I was just there to play tennis... and it all really boiled down to my faith, and that all of this is temporary. I don't think I would be in this position. I think I would be very angry, very spiteful, very jealous if I didn't have that spiritual background," she concluded.