Arthur Ashe Legacy at the Oral History Association Conference in Los Angeles
The Arthur Ashe oral history project presented at this year’s Oral History Association’s (OHA) annual conference in Los Angeles. The theme of the conference, “Walking Through the Fire: Human Perseverance in Times of Turmoil,” was a meaningful topic to explore at the association’s first in-person conference during the tail end of the pandemic. And it resonated with our enduring journey, conducting our oral history project through the unpredictableness of the pandemic. Chinyere Nwonye and I shared an overview of the project and thought-provoking discoveries that have arisen in our 70+ interview series in a “listening session” where presenters contextualize a topic, share audio clips and encourage discussion. Our presentation was titled “Arthur Ashe and the Broader Utility of Sports Oral History.” Below are four points of discovery and audio clips that we highlighted in the presentation.
Sports History Contribution Beyond Sports-Like many trailblazers, Arthur Ashe did not limit his impact to tennis but was a humanitarian and scholar in his own right. In this section, we demonstrate the greater reach of sports history beyond the history of leisure and entertainment activities.
Randall Robinson discusses Ashe’s support for the Anti-Apartheid Movement.
Intentionality in Highlighting Women’s Voices-In the Arthur Ashe Oral History Project, not only was it important to ensure the inclusion of women’s voices but also to be intentional about the impact of gender on the sport.
Bonnie Logan on winning the men’s tennis championship in college.
Sports, Race and the African American Experience-Decades after Arthur Ashe won the US Open and Wimbledon, he still remains the only Black man to do so. This section highlights the impact of race in navigating competitive sports.
A young Katrina Adams, her parents and Arthur Ashe. She discusses her experience traveling south for tennis matches during the 80s.
The Power of Everyday Stories-In this series, narrators shared everyday stories of Ashe that can’t be found elsewhere. They reveal his humanity, compassion, and humor.
Stuart Fields shares a story of running into Ashe in Romania.
To listen to more interviews in our ongoing series please visit “Purpose Served: An Oral History of the Exemplary Life of Arthur Ashe, 1943-1993,” at the Center For Oral History Research at UCLA.
Yolanda Hester,
Arthur Ashe Oral History Project Director
