On Venus Williams, Ageism, and the Burden of Being a Black Woman of Greatness

The last time Venus Williams was in the Wimbledon final was eight years ago when she faced, and lost to, her younger sister Serena. At 37 years old, the tennis champion is looking to win her sixth Wimbledon singles title and defy every critic who has said she didn’t have it in her anymore.

Williams made her debut at Wimbledon in 1997, the same year three of the players she powered through to get to this year’s final were born. She is still playing tennis and winning hard matches at an age when many of her peers have already left the sport and moved on to other ventures. That alone should be a testament to her stamina, athleticism and overall desire to be the best at a sport that wasn’t always welcoming to the little black girl from Compton, Calif.

Every article that has come out in the wake of her advancing has made

references to her age, describing it as though she should already be peddling Geritol and Depends.

The funny thing is, no one questioned Kobe Bryant playing in the NBA for 2o years. He came into the league fresh out of high school and retired last year at nearly 38 years of age. When Michael Jordan retired, then came back, then retired and came back again, people applauded and talked about his athleticism and dedication to the game.

But for Venus, a black woman who had to break down boundaries in her sport, and even played a role in making sure women won equal prize money at Wimbledon in 2007, being the best of the best is not enough.

Never mind that she has won seven major singles titles and four Olympic gold medals. Never mind that her only real competition in the sport seems to be her younger sister. Never mind that even as she battles an autoimmune disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, that causes chronic fatigue and muscle soreness, she continues to kick ass all over the court.

The problem is, when you are a black woman, good is never good enough.

We’ve witnessed that with her sister Serena, who has also had her …

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