Explorations in Sights and Sounds
Orginal Publication Date
1984
Journal Title
Explorations in Sights and Sounds
Volume
4
Issue
ess/vol4/iss1
First Page
8
Last Page
9
Abstract
Arthur Ashe, tennis professional who in 304 tournaments won fifty-one and reached the finals in forty-two others, had a heart attack at thirty-six and then quadruple bypass surgery. A sensitive, well-read and intelligent black athlete, Ashe is instinctively conservative and projects a concerned curiosity in his quest for understanding not only his own problems as man and athlete but also today's serious racial and political issues. This book, his third, is clearly written (with Neil Amdur, New York Times sportswriter) and reflects Ashe's respect for, and admiration of the English language: "I like the English language and its nuances ... I have no interest in learning how to be a master of Black English. I understand it because I've heard it all my life ... I learned to speak the English language very well." This attitude toward language seems to reflect Ashe's general unresolved view of how to maintain his blackness and how to conform to WASP attitudes, especially when he is successful artistically (as an athlete) and materialistically.
Rights
Copyright, ©EES, The National Association for Ethnic Studies, 1984