Activism
“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.” Arthur Ashe said these words and acted upon them several times during his life. He wasn’t satisfied with being a tennis superstar, willing to rely on his reputation in athletics to enjoy “the good life.” Like his father and brother, he believed that part of his role in society was to share his unique station in life to bring about social change. His experience in living in the American south, navigating a very segregated society, as well as finding his role in a majority white sport, also contributed to his sense of social justice. However, he didn’t start out thinking like this. While at UCLA, proving himself to be a phenomenal athlete, he made it a point to not mix political issues of the day with his work as a tennis player. It wasn’t until his victory in the 1968 US Open that enabled him to find his voice on social justice issues. He used his very public platform to speak out on civil rights and health education, to name a few. The following are highlights of two issues where he had tremendous impact: the South African anti-apartheid movement and the AIDS epidemic.
In 1973, Arthur Ashe became the first Black man to play in South Africa’s national tournament, after many previous attempts to acquire a visa to that country. One of the conditions he held for playing there was that the seating in the stadium be open to all people and not segregated. He also asked and received permission to tour Soweto, an infamous Black township where people lived in squalor conditions and were segregated from the White community in the region. The trip to South Africa gave Arthur a global platform where he called out the cruelty and injustice of apartheid. Even so, while there, many Black South Africans were against his coming. They thought he would do more damage than good. “Stay away, stay away, all of you….Your presence delays our struggle,” one Black journalist explained. Yet, others thanked Arthur for inspiring them to act. “I see you and other free Blacks who come here, and it is a challenge to me to be like you, free, and if not me, my sons.” (Arthur Ashe, A Life. Raymond Arsenault, p.334) In 1991, Arthur returned to South Africa to see the change that, in part, his work had contributed. By then, Nelson Mandela had been released from prison, symbolizing the end of apartheid. When asked whom he would like to visit, he replied, “How about Arthur Ashe?”
In 1988, Arthur Ashe learned he had contracted HIV from a blood transfusion during heart surgery years earlier. At a time when HIV/AIDS was misunderstood and heavily stigmatized, he chose to treat his disease like everything else in his life: straight on, with a clear, rational approach, and on his terms. His wish was to keep his condition private. Unfortunately, in 1992 Arthur learned about an article that was to be published in the newspaper USA Today reporting on his health. Frustrated and angry at this breach of privacy, Arthur felt forced to go public about his HIV diagnosis. To quell the fear and misinformation surrounding HIV/AIDS, Arthur decided to use his unique platform to raise awareness, challenge the stigma about those living with the virus, and encourage compassion for its victims. He started the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS, which advocates for more HIV/AIDS research and education, particularly in countries outside the U.S. At home, Arthur used his connections with the sports world to help the Black community. Arthur joined with Magic Johnson of the LA Lakers to educate and promote health equity in the Black community. Because of both of their diagnoses and activism, equitable health care became a significant issue in the 1992 presidential campaign. Arthur continued to speak out about health disparities in underserved communities and began the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health. He consistently aimed his efforts to shift public perceptions and challenge stereotypes that negatively impacted Black communities. Today, Arthur’s legacy continues to inspire new generations of activists, athletes, and everyday citizens.
Learning and Leadership Activities
Reflecting on Quotes to Take Action
Arthur Ashe’s quote, “From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life,” captures how he showed up in the world. Post these quotes and the guiding questions beside them on a wall, table, or floor. With a partner, walk around, read and reflect on each quote, and respond to the guiding questions.
Quotes & Guiding Questions
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
How can you take inventory of the skills and gifts you bring so that you can be the most effective in serving the needs of that community?
“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”
How does Arthur’s idea of heroism challenge the usual definitions of power and success? Who in your community embodies this different kind of heroism?
“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.”
How can being prepared make you a more effective leader? What steps are you taking to prepare yourself to lead effectively?
“You’ve got to get to the stage in life where going for it is more important than winning or losing.”
How does Arthur’s idea of valuing effort over outcome challenge our ideas of how change is made? How does this impact your perspective on how you might approach activism or speaking out for change?
“I don’t want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments. I want to be remembered for my humanitarian contributions to society.”
Reflect on what kind of legacy you want to leave. What steps can you take to ensure that your legacy reflects the values you hold most dear?
“Racism is not an excuse to not do the best you can.”
What message do you think Arthur is trying to send with this quote, and how might this connect with challenges you face? How can we acknowledge the challenges of injustices while still striving to achieve a better world?
Reflect on the discussions you had for each of these quotes. Think about a pledge you can make that would involve one act of service inspired by Arthur’s quotes and share this with your group and community.
Using Your Voice to Be the Change
Think about the issues that moved Arthur to use his public platform to create change in the world. Now, think about an issue that moves you. It could be one in your family, community, nation, or world. Create a poster, digital slide, or a 2-minute newscast that teaches about that issue. Make sure to include:
A headline that captures the message you want to impart.
A quote, slogan, chart, or excerpt from a text that represents your beliefs about this issue.
An image, symbol, or metaphor that is representative of the issue and your ideas.
A call to action section that would motivate others to engage with your message.
Speaking Out for Justice
Hold a debate to analyze the ethical challenges Arthur faced in each of the following:
Should Arthur have gone to South Africa in 1973?
Pro: His presence brought global attention and inspired hope.
Con: His presence risked legitimizing the apartheid regime.
Should Arthur have gone public about his HIV diagnosis?
Pro: It raised awareness and reduced stigma.
Con: It violated his right to privacy and forced disclosure.
Reflection Question: How did going through these debates help clarify your thoughts about the balance between personal privacy and public responsibility?
Mapping Acts of Courage
On a strip of paper, create a timeline of Arthur’s life where you think he showed personal and public courage (e.g., UCLA years, 1968 U.S. Open, 1973 South Africa trip, AIDS announcement, founding of NJTL, etc.). Then, think of a person in your life (a family member, neighbor, celebrity, etc.) who has also, in your view, shown courage. On another strip of paper, place that timeline parallel to Arthur’s. For each timeline, be sure to include/show:
A brief description
What he/she learned or how their worldview changed
A symbolic image or word
What do you notice from observing these timelines? How do they inspire, challenge you? What actions can you commit to that reflect what you have learned from this exercise and how you can show courage?
My Leadership Statement
Think about why people engage in acts of courage and activism. Is there a family member you admire for this? A sports figure? A community leader? A member of a religious organization? Pick a person and respond to these questions:
What challenges did this person face?
What values guided their decisions?
How did they show courage, empathy, and ethical leadership?
What impact did they have on others or their community?
What can you learn from their choices that apply to your own goals?
Talk about your responses with a partner or small group. Based on your reflections and discussion, create a leadership statement that is grounded in what you learned. Here is a sample prompt to get you started:
“A leader I admire shows courage by_____. I want to lead by_____because I believe that leadership means_____.”