When Althea Gibson first met Angela Buxton, she had no idea the journey on
which she was embarking. Gibson was born in the American South, and raised in
the heart of a vibrant Harlem. Amazingly, with the help of friends who
recognized her extraordinary talent, Gibson rose from a childhood playing
stickball on Harlem streets to claim victory at Wimbledon. Her sacrifices and
the humiliations she suffered paving the way for the success of Venus and
Serena Williams. But Althea's was a victory hard fought and hard won. Despite
her athletic prowess, she was even shunned by the other female players at the
Wimbledon game of 1956. Her falling being her skin colour. Angela Buxton, the
granddaughter of Russian Jews was also shunned. Her failing was her religion.
Finding themselves without doubles partners, the pair decided to join forces
and together they triumphed. The two would become lifelong friends, and Buxton
would prove to be Althea Gibson's greatest support during her darkest times.
Althea Gibson died in 2003, but her life, and contributions to tennis and race
relations in the United States is well preserved in this valuable
book.

Bruce Schoefeld delivers not only the true history of Gibson's
life, but also an inspiring story of the underdog who refused to let bigotry
win out-both on and off the court.