Althea Gibson: The Wimbledon Champion Who Beat The Odds

Althea Gibson: The Wimbledon Champion Who Beat The Odds

The world of tennis in the 1940s wasn't made for someone of Althea Gibson's background.


She was the descendent of slaves, and grew up in South Carolina with the nearest tennis courts available to an African American at that time being hundreds of miles away.


How did Althea Gibson go on to become the first African American to win a Grand Slam title? What challenges did she face on and off the court? And what's her legacy today?


Kate is joined by Ashley Brown, author of Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson, to find out.


This episode was edited by Stuart Beckwith, and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.


If you're enjoying Betwixt please vote for us at the British Podcast Awards here. It would mean the world to us!


Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Kate Lister, Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Mary Beard and more.


Get 50% off your first 3 months with code BETWIXT. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(405)

Menopause: History, ‘Hysteria’ & Hormone Revolutions

Menopause: History, ‘Hysteria’ & Hormone Revolutions

When you look into the history of menopause it’s steeped in misogyny, fear and demonising women’s bodies. But what is the truth behind some of the popular menopause myths? How has it been understood (...

10 Mai 202446min

Sex & Scandal in Charles II's Court

Sex & Scandal in Charles II's Court

There are many privileges that come with being a royal, but where do mistresses lay amongst these? If you'll excuse the pun.Charles II was notorious for the women in his life, from his wife Catherine ...

7 Mai 202446min

History of Geishas

History of Geishas

What does it mean to be a geisha? How does someone become one? And how do they differ from sex workers?The geisha world is famously very secretive and private, and taking us into it today is Lesley Do...

3 Mai 202442min

Drunk Victorians: Moral Panic & Meat Wine

Drunk Victorians: Moral Panic & Meat Wine

Glass of meat wine, anyone? That's right, the Victorians loved a glass of meaty wine.They loved drinking so much that it became a moral panic, with whole movements of temperance cropping up around Bri...

30 Apr 202444min

Elvis Presley's Sex Life

Elvis Presley's Sex Life

Elvis Presley embraced sexuality from the start. Rock n roll was not tame music, and neither were his early performances.So much so that he was nicknamed Elvis 'the pelvis' after early TV performances...

26 Apr 202436min

Ancient Greek Sexual Health: Wandering Wombs & Headless Beetles

Ancient Greek Sexual Health: Wandering Wombs & Headless Beetles

If there’s one thing you’ll find out from this episode, it’s that the Ancient Greeks were better at philosophy than gynaecology.Struggling to conceive? You might be given a stuffed dead puppy to provo...

23 Apr 202444min

Sex in the Aztec Empire

Sex in the Aztec Empire

The Aztec Empire might conjure up images of human sacrifice.And whilst religious violence was part of their society, theirs was also a very egalitarian society where pleasure was valued and sexuality ...

19 Apr 202444min

Fetishwear: A Kinky History

Fetishwear: A Kinky History

What is the origin of the word fetish? How did the war play a part in shaping fetishwear? And what are some of the styles that are most enjoyed?Kink and fetish scenes have been a part of society for y...

16 Apr 20241h 3min

Populært innen Historie

henrettelsespodden
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
rss-katastrofe
historier-som-endret-norge
historier-som-endret-verden
rss-benadet
aftenposten-historie
sektledere
rss-frontkjemperne
med-egne-oyne
rss-gamle-greier
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
historiepodden
vare-historier
taakeprat
rss-politisk-preik
rss-historiepodden-ww2
sannhet-eller-konspirasjon
undersattene