Skip to main content
Back to Show
American Masters

Althea - Preview

This is the story of Althea Gibson (1927-2003), a truant from the rough streets of Harlem, who emerged as the unlikely queen of the highly segregated tennis world in the 1950s. She was the first African American to play and win at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals (precursor of the U.S. Open) — a decade before Arthur Ashe. Interviewees include Wimbledon champion Dick Savitt and Billie Jean King.

Support Provided By
Season
Alexander Calder
55:29
Calder’s aesthetic revolution concerned a somewhat taboo topic in the art world - fun.
James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:25:19
Explores the life, works and beliefs of the late writer and civil rights activist.
Active loading indicator