This Week:
Citizen Ashe premieres this Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Plus, how to honor Bourdain Day.
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WATCH: The trailer for Citizen Ashe |
Take a look back at Arthur Ashe's life |
This weekend, the CNN Film Citizen Ashe premieres on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The film examines the life and legacy of one of tennis's biggest stars: Arthur Ashe, the only Black man to win singles titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Ashe was more than a great tennis player though. He was also a social activist, an inspiring role model for African Americans and a high-profile campaigner for the HIV and AIDS communities.
Take a look at his life below:
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Ashe, far right, shakes hands with opponents at the Eastern Junior Tennis Championships in 1959. Ashe was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1943 and began playing tennis at an early age. He first tested his skills on a Blacks-only playground in the city. |
Ashe plays at Wimbledon in 1964. A year earlier, he won the NCAA title at UCLA and became the first Black player to represent the US in the Davis Cup. |
Arthur Ashe Sr. congratulated his son after winning the US Open in 1968. Ashe was the first Black man to win a grand slam singles title. He went on to win the Australian Open in 1970 and the US Open in 1975. |
Ashe attends a hearing at the United Nations in New York in 1970. He was campaigning for South Africa to be excluded from the International Tennis Federation. He was denied a visa by the country's apartheid government. |
In 1985, Ashe was added to the Tennis Hall of Fame. The world was shocked in 1979 when the super-fit Ashe suffered a heart attack and underwent a bypass operation. He was set to return to the tennis tour when further complications arose and he was forced to announce his retirement. |
Ashe with his wife, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, and his daughter, Camera Ashe, attend the Arthur Ashe AIDS Tennis Challenge in 1992. That year, Ashe announced that he had AIDS. It was thought that Ashe contracted HIV from infected blood transfusions during his heart operation many years before. He began campaigning to debunk myths about HIV/AIDS. |
Fireworks are set off during the dedication ceremony for the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York in 1997. It's the main stadium at Flushing Meadows, which hosts the US Open, and it's the largest tennis stadium in the world.
You can continue to learn about Ashe's life and accomplishments through pictures here.
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What athlete has inspired you? |
Arthur Ashe inspired many as the first Black man to win the US Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon. After watching Citizen Ashe on CNN, take a look at this discussion guide to learn more about the causes he fought for and how you can continue his legacy of activism.
Here are some ideas:
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The Coaching Corps' Race Equity Initiative is increasing community involvement and sport participation nationally among Black and brown adults with a focus on parents and community members, so their kids can reap the benefits of playing sports. Learn about how you can support the initiative and sign up to be a coach in your community.
Check out what local opportunities are available through USTA and become involved with active communities to enact positive social change.
Apply to Good Sports to get equipment donations for your sports teams
We want to hear from you! Which athlete has inspired you the most? Share your response on social and tag the athlete. Please use #CitizenAshe.
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Don't forget to tune in, Citizen Ashe premieres on CNN this Sunday, June 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. |
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Remembering Anthony Bourdain on Saturday |
This Saturday, June 25, is Bourdain Day. Created by Anthony Bourdain's friends and colleagues after his death, Bourdain Day commemorates Bourdain's birthday and celebrates the iconic globe-trotting chef.
To mark the occasion and remember some of Bourdain's best moments, you can stream the first season of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown on HBO Max. You can also check out the CNN Film Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain.
We spoke with Bourdain's friends and family earlier this year and heard some of their favorite memories sharing meals and traveling with the CNN host. Take a look at what Chef Edward Lee said about his first nerve-racking interaction with Bourdain here:
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WATCH: 'Who the f*** made this oyster': Chef on his heart-dropping encounter with Bourdain |
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