In 1980, Richard, a black father, saw a Romanian tennis player receiving a cheque for $40,000 after winning a tournament. He decided to teach his daughters tennis, but he didn’t have the money to pay for their training. Over the next five years, Richard collected tennis-related magazines and video cassettes and taught himself to play tennis. He eventually had a tennis racquet in his hands and taught his daughters the game.
Richard was overprotective and physically strong, often being beaten by local gang bullies while trying to protect his daughters from harassment during tennis trainings. An incident occurred when he refused to leave the tennis court during practice, this resulted in breaking his nose, jaw, and fingers, and knocking out several of his teeth by Compton gangsters. Compton, California is hometown to the Williams.
In 2000, Richard watched his daughters Venus Williams and Serena Williams win Grand Slam titles, despite facing racism and bigotry. Their resilient and kind personality helped them stand up to racism and bigotry. Their journey inspired black people and athletes worldwide.
Richard’s story serves as a reminder that achieving goals, unwavering resolve, and trusting in God can lead to success. The story of Venus and Serena Williams serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope and a way to overcome obstacles.
