Black Tennis History Timeline 1961-1975

 1874-1900  |
 1901-1930  |
 1931-1960  |
 1961-1975  |
 1976-2016  |

1961

The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) organizes Freedom Rides through the Deep South.

The 45th ATA Nationals continued at Hampton Institute.  Arthur Ashe, Jr. won the Men’s Singles crown, While 16 year old Carolyn Williams captured the Women’s title.  Ashe and Ronald Charity teamed to win the Men’s Doubles.  Williams and Marvalene Faggett won the Women’s Doubles.  Mimi Kanarek and Ernie Ingram won the Mixed Doubles. Bob Davis won the Junior title upsetting top seeded Charles Berry in 5 sets, winning the final three sets after losing the opening two.  Carolyn Williams wins the Girls 18 Singles Championship.

Arthur Ashe, Jr. won the U.S. Interscholastic Singles Championship and repeated as U.S. Boy’s Singles Champion.

1962

Ernie Davis from Syracuse University becomes the first African American to receive the Heisman Trophy.
James Meredith becomes the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi.

The 46th ATA Nationals returned to Wilberforce University.  Arthur as he, Jr. gained his third consecutive Men’s Singles Championship by defeating Wilbur Jenkins in straight sets.  Carolyn Liquori, a white player, captured the Women’s Singles title.  Kanarek and Liquori captured the Women’s Doubles while Wilbert and Robert Davis won the Men’s Doubles.  Mimi Kanarek and Ernie Ingram repeated as Mixed Doubles winners.

1963

Medgar Evers, Mississippi NAACP Field Secretary, is assassinated outside his home in Jackson.
200,000 participate in the March on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his “I have a Dream” speech.
16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham is bombed, killing four young girls.
President John F. Kennedy is assassinated.

The 47th ATA Nationals were held at Wi,berforce University.  Wilbert Davis captured the Men’s Singles title and Ginger Pfiefer won the Women’s.  Howard Minnis and William Monroe captured the Men’s Doubles, while Pfizer and Maimee Frye won the Women’s Doubles.  Lucy McEvans and Charles Berry took the Mixed Doubles.

Arthur Ashe, Jr. became the first African American named to the Davis Cup Team and also won the U.S. Hard Court Championships.

1964

President Lyndon B. Johnson declares war on poverty and sighs Equal Opportunity Act.
Cassius Clay (later Mohammed Ali) becomes World Heavyweight Champion.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 bans discrimination in all public accommodations and by employers.
Martin Luther King, Jr. receives the Nobel Peace Prize.
James Chaney, 21,: Andrew Goodman, 21; and Michael Schwerner, 24 are working to register black voters in Mississippi when they are arrested by the police and released into the custody of the Ku Klux Klan.  These three individuals, two black and one white, are killed by the Ku Klux Klan members and thrown into a dam.

The 48th ATA Nationals were held at Wilberforce University.  Veteran George Stewart won the Men’s Singles and Bonnie Logan won the Woman’s Singles title.  Luis Glass and Lendward Simpson captured the Men’s Doubles Championship and Sylvia Hooks and Bonnie Logan won the Women’s Doubles.  Charles Berry and Bessie Stockard won the Mixed Doubles title.

At age 15, Lendward Simpson became the youngest male to play in the U.S. Nationals at Forest Hills.

1965

Malcolm X is assassinated.
Voting Rights Act is signed into law.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leads 2nd Selma March. Watts Uprising in Los Angeles results in thirty four people killed and a thousand injured.
The Voting Rights Act that makes it easier for Southern black citizens to vote is signed into law.  It therefore becomes illegal to use literacy tests, poll taxes and other requirements intended to restrict blacks from voting.
Edward Brooke of Massachusetts becomes the 1st African American to be popularly elected to the US Senate.
Constance Baker Motley is the first African American woman elevated to a Federal judgeship.
Civil Rights Leader Julian Bond wins a seat in the Georgia State Senate.
President Johnson issues Executive Order 11246 which requires government contractors to take “affirmative action” toward the hiring and employment of African Americans.

The 49th ATA Nationals returned to Wilberforce University.  Luis Glass won the Men’s Singles Championship.  Bonnie Logan retained her Women’s Singles title.  Luis Glass and Lendward Simpson retained their Men’s Doubles title.  Jean Richardson and Helen Watanabe won the Women’s Doubles.  Sylvia Hooks and William Morton, Jr. were eat new winners of the Mixed Doubles.

Arthur Ashe, Jr. captured the NCAA Singles Championship (UCLA) and Doubles Championship with Ian Crookenden.

1966

The Black Panther Party formed in Oakland by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale.
Edward Brooke becomes the 1st African American to be popularly elected to the U.S. Senate.
Constance Baker Motley is the first African American woman elevated to a Federal judgeship.
Julian Bond wins a seat in Georgia State Senate.

The 50th ATA Nationals returned for the fifth consecutive year to Wilberforce University.  Wilbert Davis took back the Men’s Singles trophy while Bonnie Logan won her 3rd Women’s Singles title in a row.  Arthur Carrington and John Mudd took the Men’s Doubles Championship.  The Women’s Doubles title was won by Bonnie Logan and Bessie Stockard while Sylvia Hooks and William Morton, Jr. retained their Mixed Doubles Championship.

1967

U.S. Supreme Court in Loving v. Virginia strikes down interracial marriage bans.
Thurgood Marshall takes his seat as the first African American Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Stokely Carmichael, a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) uses the term “Black Power” in a speech in Seattle.  The term becomes very popular among communities around the world.
Devastating rece riots take place in July in Newark, New Jersey and Detroit, Michigan.

The 51st ATA Nationals returned to Wilberforce University.  Wilbert Davis won the Men’s Singles and Bonnie Logan won the Women’s.  Arthur Carrington and John Mudd repeated as Men’s Doubles Champions.  Bessie Stockard and Sylvia Hooks teamed up to win the Women’s Doubles.  Bonnie Logan and Lendward Simpson captured the Mixed Doubles.

Arthur Ashe won the U.S. Clay Court Championship and teamed with Charlie Pasarell to win the U.S. Indoor Doubles.

1968

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.   In the wake of the assassination 125 cities in 29 states experience uprisings; 46 people killed, 35,000 injured.
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 outlaws discrimination in the sale and rental of housing.
New York Senator and Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated in Los Angeles.
San Francisco State University establishes the 1st Black Studies Program.
Shirley Chisholm of New York is 1st Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress.
Black boycott of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

The 52nd ATA Nationals were held for the 7th consecutive year at Wilberforce.  The Men’s Singles Champion was Robert Binns.  bonnie Logan won her 5th Woman’s Singles title.  Marty Goal and Gregory Morton captured the Men’s Doubles title, while Bessie Stockard and Ann Koger took the Women’s Doubles Championship.  Bonnie Logan and Lendward Simpson repeated as winners of the Mixed Doubles.

1969

The Ford Foundation gives $1 million to Morgan State University.  Howard University and Yale University to teach courses in African American Studies.

The 53rd ATA Nationals moved to St. Louis, Missouri.  Marty Goal captured the Men’s Singles title and Bonnie Logan kept her streak alive by winning the Women’s Singles title for the 6th straight year.  Marty Goal and Gregory Morton won the Men’s Doubles/  Reuter and Beauchamp captured the Women’s Doubles.  The Mixed Doubles crown was retained by Bonnie Logan and Lendward Simpson.

1970

Clifton Wharton, Jr. is named the president of Michigan State University, the first African American to lead a major, predominantly white, university.
Bobby Seale and six other defendants (popularly known as the Chicago Seven) are acquitted of the charges of conspiring to disrupt the 1968 Democratic Convention.
Kenneth Gibson becomes the first black mayor in a Northeastern city when he assumes the post in Newark, New Jersey.

The 54th ATA Nationals returned to St. Louis.  Gene Fluri captured the Men’s Singles and Bonnie Logan won her 7th consecutive Women’s title.  Gene and Tom Flora won the Men’s Doubles Championship.  Reuter and Beauchamp successfully defended their Women’s Doubles title.  Bonnie Logan and Lendward Simpson won the Mixed Doubles.

Juan Farrow won the U.S. Boy’s Singles Championship and teamed with Chip Hooper to win the 12-and-under Doubles title.

1971

The Supreme Court upholds busing as a legitimate means of integrating public schools.
The Congressional Black Caucus is formed in Washington D.C.
Prisoners riot at the Attica Correctional Facility.
Rev. Jesse Jackson founds People United to Save Humanity (PUSH)
New York Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm makes and unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.  She is the first African American to campaign for the nomination.

The 55th ATA Nationals returned to St. Louis.  John Wilkerson captured the Men’s Singles and Bessie Stockard won the Women’s.  William Heinbecker and Jerry Johnson won the Men’s Doubles.  Pamela Steinmetz and Bunny Wall seized the Women’s Doubles.  The Mixed Doubles was won by Beverly Russell and Alberto Money.

Arthur Ashe, Jr. and Marty Riessen won the French Open Doubles title.

Althea Gibson was elected into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

1972

Barbara Jordan of Houston and Andrew Young of Atlanta become the first black Congressional Representatives elected from the U.S. South since 1898.

The 56th ATA Nationals moved to Boston.  Horace Reid won the Men’s Singles defeating Arthur Carrington in an epic five-set match televised on the local PBS station.  Lorraine Bryant took the Women’s Singles.  The Women’s Doubles was won by Elaine Busch and Brenda Johnson.  Lee Stavins and Cris Scott captured the Mixed Doubles title.  Bruce Foxworth wins the Boys 18 Singles title and Deborah Hunter wins the Girls 18 Singles title.There was no Finals Match played for the Men’s Doubles.

Juan Farrow captured the U.S. Boy’s 14-and-under Singles title.

Diane Morrison won the National Public Parks Girls 16-and-under Singles Championship.

1973

Thomas Bradley is elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles in the modern era and holds the office for 20 years.
Maynard H. Jackson, Jr. is elected the first black mayor of Atlanta.
Coleman Young is elected the first black mayor of Detroit.

The 57th ATA Nationals returned to Boston.  Arthur Carrington captured the Men’s Singles Championship.  The Women’s Singles was won by Mimi Kanarek.  Shri Anadon and Luis Glass were the Men’s Doubles winners.  Jean Burnett and Arvelia Meyers won the Women’s Doubles Championship.  Ann Koger and Tyrone Mapp won the Mixed Doubles.Robert Johnson wins the Boy’s 18 Singles title and Linda Jones wins the Girls 18 Singles title.

Juan Farrow won the U.S. Boy’s Indoor Singles Championship.

1974

Hank Aaron hits his 715th home run to become the all-time leader in home runs in Major League Baseball.

The 58th ATA Nationals moved to Washington, D.C.  Roger Guedes won the Men’s Singles.  Jean Burnett captured the Women’s Singles title.  The Men’s Doubles title was won by Bruce Foxworth and Roger Fuedes.  Bessie Stockard and Barbara Faulkner won the Women’s doubles.  Ann Koger and Tyrone Mapp successfully defended their Mixed Doubles crown.

Lendward Simpson became the first black player in World Team Tennis when he signed with the Detroit Loves.

1975

Frank Robinson becomes the first African American Major League Baseball manager when he takes over the Cleveland Indians.
First black owned television station, WGBR, begins broadcasting in Detroit.

The 59th ATA Nationals we’re held in San Diego.  Benny Sims captured the Men’s Singles and Diane Morrison won the Women’s.  M. Andrews and Lawrence King teamed up to win the Men’s Doubles.  The Women’s Doubles Championship was claimed by S. Nancy and Lisa Rapfogel.   The Mixed Doubles title was captured by R. Harris and Dee Stewart.  Tony Brock wins the Boys 18 Singles title and Lisa Rapfogel wins the Girls 18 Singles title.

Arthur Ashe, Jr. outfoxed Jimmy Connors and took the Men’s Singles title at Wimbledon, thereby becoming the first African American man to win the Men’s Singles Championship.