Arthur Ashe was a champion—on the court and for the people. As a trailblazing athlete, Ashe went on to become the only Black man to ever win the singles title at the US and Australian Open and Wimbledon. Encouraged by his father, Arthur Ashe Sr., Ashe began his athletic career as a child. Playing on the Blacks-only courts in Richmond, Virginia. It was clear that Arthur possessed a natural talent for tennis, but segregation prevented him from competing at a higher level. Young Arthur journeyed to St. Louis in 1960, and his undeniable talent landed him the first win for a Black player in the National Junior tournament. Ashe was a star on the rise, traveling the globe and racking up multiple wins, but, despite all his success, he was still denied equal pay and recognition as a professional athlete. His own experience with discrimination led Arthur to become active in civil rights—advocating for the equal rights of Black Americans and for anti-apartheid efforts in South Africa. As his interests in social change progressed, Arthur advanced in his athletic career, ranking #3 in the country, and leading the U.S. team to victory at the 1968 Davis Cup. 

Ashe was hospitalized for paralysis in his right arm in 1988. After he underwent extensive testing, blood transfusions, and multiple invasive surgeries, doctors discovered he was HIV positive. Arthur and his loved ones chose to keep the diagnosis private, until an article in USA Today forced him to go public. To dispel misinformation about HIV/AIDS, Ashe worked tirelessly to raise awareness and challenge the narrative about those living with the virus. He founded the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS to educate, address the need for research funding, and push for policy reform.

February 1993, Arthur Ashe died from AIDS-related pneumonia. He was only 49 years old. His body was displayed for over 6,000 people in his home state of Virginia. Amid illness, Arthur penned a memoir of his life … just one week before his heartbreaking death. ‍

But Arthur Ashe is still here … because his gifts on the tennis court helped change the narrative surrounding HIV/AIDS. His legacy lives on as an athlete and as a humanitarian.

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