Serena and Venus Williams’ father, Richard, once candidly admitted his experiences with racism as a black man in America. He revealed that he was no stranger to it and had come dangerously close to “being killed” on several occasions.
Richard grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, before moving to Saginaw, Michigan, Long Beach, California, and finally Compton. His goal was to provide his daughters with a tough environment that would help shape their mentality.
In his childhood, he already encountered the harsh reality of racism. He once recounted witnessing the lynching of a friend in the 1940s and 50s, an experience that deeply affected him.
The 82-year-old recalled the death of another friend who was run over by a white woman. The woman claimed that it was the victim’s fault, and Richard stated that there was no police investigation or any actions.
“There was no investigation, there was no police car. But that was life. I have been close to death so many times. A hell of a lot of times,” Venus Williams’ father Richard told CNN in 2015.
Speaking about moving to Compton with his daughters, he said:
“To be successful, you have to prepare for the unexpected – and I wanted to prepare for that. Criticism can bring out the best in you.”
“This is the hardest moment in the world I’ve ever had” – Venus Williams’ father Richard on Indian Wells racism controversy
A controversial incident occurred in Indian Wells in 2001 when Venus Williams she withdrew from her semifinal match against her sister Serena shortly before it was due to take place, citing a knee injury. This led to widespread speculation and accusations that Venus had withdrawn to avoid facing her sister in the final.
When Serena played in the final against Kim Clijsters, with her father Richard and Venus in the stands cheering her on, they faced a hostile crowd. Many observers believed that the hostility was motivated by racial prejudice. The boos during the match were intense, and both sisters later spoke about how embarrassing and painful the experience was for them.
It was another encounter with racism for Richard, probably the one that traumatized him the most. He revealed to the media that he overheard a viewer talking about being “skinned alive”. Fearing for his safety, he vowed never to return to the tournament.
“This is the hardest time in the world I’ve ever had,” Williams said. – I will never go to Indian Wells again, because I believe that guy would skin me alive.
Both sisters boycotted the tournament, with Serena returning in 2015 and Venus following suit a year later in 2016.
Venus Williams and father Richard recall one match of the 7-time Grand Slam champion “should have won”
Edited by Pritha Ghosh
