Venus and Serena Williams: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies) (Hardcover)

~ Jacqueline Edmondson (Author)
Key Phrases: junior tour, quarter finalist, tennis history, Venus Williams, African American, Richard Williams (more...)

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Book Description

Shares the life stories of the Williams sisters, who have made significant achievements for both women and African Americans through the sport of tennis as well as their personal lives.

Product Description

The author shares the life stories of Venus and Serena Williams, who charged onto center court in professional tennis at the end of the 20th century with a force never before seen in the sport. No other women tennis players have matched their strength, their speed, or their overall athleticism, and none have achieved the status and celebrity they have gained on and off the court as they powered to the number one and two rankings in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). Venus and Serena Williams represent in many ways a shift in attitudes concerning women in sports, particularly African American women. By playing tough tennis, they conveyed to the public that it was acceptable for women to be strong, to have muscles, and to compete.

When Venus and Serena first appeared in the public eye, their hair bound in beads bespoke their ethnic pride, the braces on their teeth belied their youth, and their grit and determination enabled them to withstand challenges concerning the attitudes of these young African American women in what had traditionally been a white-washed sport. This book shares their stories, and it provides a way to consider the impact of race, gender, and culture, and the influence these have through sport in shaping popular culture. Includes a timeline and a bibliography of print and electronic sources for additional research.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood (July 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313331650
• ISBN-13: 978-0313331657
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #206,157 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The life stories of the tennis pro sisters is shared in chapters which cover their stories & associated topics of gender & race, January 7, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

With all the action tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams have brought to the sport, it's near certain Jacqueline Edmonson's Venus And Serena Williams: A Biography will bring added attention and a ready audience. The life stories of the tennis pro sisters is shared in chapters which cover their stories and associated topics of gender and race. An excellent addition to Greenwood's biography series.