1.

Identify parts of this selection that share information about the United States in the
1950’s and 1960’s.

- At the beginning of this selection, Arthur Ashe has already given a substantial sentence
that stated that Blacks had no identification with tennis - on or off the court and that most
of the black tennis players came from the well-to-do segment of the black society. His
mentor, Dr. Johnson also makes the whites the ultimate opponent in his charges’ minds.
Arthur Ashe also realized that playing against whites was about fighting assumptions
about black inferiorities. When he won O.H. Parish, the whites conveniently linked him
to a cabin that was ransacked. During the 50’s and the 60’s, racial segregation was very
much taking place and the ideology of white supremacy was strong. In the selection,
Arthur Ashe tells that blacks were generally doing jobs like washing the dishes,
scrubbing floors and were mostly blue –collar workers. He broke the barrier by becoming
the first ever black American to be the No.1 tennis player in the world.

2. How does Ashe use that information to better portray himself as a person?

- He uses this information to show himself as someone that came from the lower part of
society, and learning to deal with racist situations helped him to learn social graces, to
deal with the racist innuendoes thrown at him, helped him build character. Through these
information, Ashe is telling more about his past, and allows readers to have a better
understanding of his backgrounds.