Citizen Ashe

Director: Rex Miller & Sam Pollard (2021)

Cast: Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe

It would be an understatement to say that the late Arthur Ashe was just an inspirational figure to young black AND white kids who wished to find their own voice in the world. Ashe lived in a “Country Club” version of America in a sport that was virtually a back page mention in the sports pages when he started. Ashe would dominate as an amateur and realize his potential as a pro later in his career.

Citizen Ashe tells the story of tennis champion and civil rights activist, Arthur Ashe, as he rises to prominence after becoming the first African American to win the US Open in 1968. The assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy jumpstart Ashe's political activism and provide him with a platform for social change.

This British and American-made documentary is well worth the watch.

Fun Fact:
Ashe was the first black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team, and the only black man ever to win the singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open. He retired in 1980.