Althea Gibson was considered the greatest tennis player in the world in the 1950s after becoming the first Black person to win Wimbledon.

Breaking barriers on the world's stage was a long way from the streets of Harlem where she grew up and the backyard tennis court in Wilmington she practiced on as a young woman. While in Wilmington, Althea would face the injustice of segregation and the hurdles of inequality, but she never let it stop her from striving to be the best in a sport she was born to play.

This week's super-sized episode explores Althea's life and legacy, from her childhood as a street kid, to her days dominating the sports world, to the late-in-life struggle to survive after her community turned its back on her.

Joining the episode is special guest Lenny Simpson, a former professional tennis player who was coached and mentored by Althea as a young man. Today, he is the founder of One Love Tennis in Wilmington.

In an extended interview, Lenny talks about his memories of the player and person Althea was, the struggles she faced and how she changed the game for every Black athlete that followed her.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram. Additional editing by Adam Fish.

The show is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry and Tidewater Heating & Air Conditioning.

Sources:

- "Born to Win: The Authorized Biography of Althea Gibson," by Frances Clayton Gray

- "I Always Wanted to Be Somebody," by Althea Gibson

- "Althea" (dir. Rex Miller), 2014, PBS

Althea Gibson was considered the greatest tennis player in the world in the 1950s after becoming the first Black person to win Wimbledon.
Breaking barriers on the world's stage was a long way from the streets of Harlem where she grew up and the backyard tennis court in Wilmington she practiced on as a young woman. While in Wilmington, Althea would face the injustice of segregation and the hurdles of inequality, but she never let it stop her from striving to be the best in a sport she was born to play.
This week's super-sized episode explores Althea's life and legacy, from her childhood as a street kid, to her days dominating the sports world, to the late-in-life struggle to survive after her community turned its back on her.
Joining the episode is special guest Lenny Simpson, a former professional tennis player who was coached and mentored by Althea as a young man. Today, he is the founder of One Love Tennis in Wilmington.
In an extended interview, Lenny talks about his memories of the player and person Althea was, the struggles she faced and how she changed the game for every Black athlete that followed her.
Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram. Additional editing by Adam Fish.
The show is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry and Tidewater Heating &amp; Air Conditioning.
Sources:
- "Born to Win: The Authorized Biography of Althea Gibson," by Frances Clayton Gray
- "I Always Wanted to Be Somebody," by Althea Gibson
- "Althea" (dir. Rex Miller), 2014, PBS

StarNews Media Presents "Cape Fear Unearthed," a podcast digging into the history books of Southeastern North Carolina. The weekly podcast will feature stories drawn from the region's persisting legends, historical oddities and mysterious figures that have helped shape its legacy and culture.

Cape Fear Unearthed

When Althea Gibson became the first Black person to win Wimbledon in 1957, she had come a long way from the streets of Harlem and a backyard tennis court in Wilmington to take on the world stage. This week we look at her life and legacy, from street to world champion.

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