Serena and Venus Williams’ father, Richard, once candidly admitted about his experiences with racism as a black man in America. He revealed that he was no stranger to it and came dangerously close to being ‘killed’ on several occasions.
Richard grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, before moving to Saginaw, Michigan, Long Beach, California, and finally to Compton. His goal was to provide his daughters with a tough environment in which they could help shape their mindset.
During his youth he had already come into contact with the harsh reality of racism. He once said he witnessed a friend being lynched in the 1940s and 1950s, an experience that deeply affected him.
The 82-year-old recalled the death of another friend who was run over by a white woman. The woman claimed it was the victim’s fault, and Richard stated there was no police investigation and no action taken.
“There was no investigation, there was no police car. But that was life. I was on the verge of being killed so many times. Very often,” Venus Williams’ father, Richard, told CNN in 2015.
Speaking about moving to Compton with his daughters, he said:
“To be successful you have to prepare for the unexpected – and that’s what I wanted to prepare for. Criticism can get the best out of you.”
“That’s the hardest time in the world I’ve ever had” – Venus Williams’ father Richard on the Indian Wells racism controversy
A controversial incident took place at Indian Wells in 2001 when Venus Williams withdrew from her semi-final match against her sister Serena just before it was due to take place, citing a knee injury. This led to widespread speculation and accusations that Venus had withdrawn to avoid meeting her sister in the final.
When Serena played against Kim Clijsters in the final, with her father Richard and Venus in the stands supporting her, they were met with a hostile crowd. Many observers believed that the hostility was fueled by racial prejudice. The boos during the match were intense and both sisters later talked about how uncomfortable and hurtful the experience was for them.
It was another encounter with racism for Richard, perhaps the one that traumatized him most. He revealed to the media that he had heard an onlooker talking about “skinning him alive.” Fearing for his safety, he vowed never to return to the tournament.
“That’s the hardest time in the world I’ve ever had,” Williams said. “I’m never going to Indian Wells again because I think that guy would skin me alive.”
Both sisters boycotted the tournament, with Serena returning in 2015 and Venus following suit a year later in 2016.
Venus Williams and Father Richard recall a match that seven-time Grand Slam champion “should have won”
Edited by Pritha Ghosh