Read, Listen, Watch, Act

The events of the last two weeks have shocked our region, our nation and the world while still grappling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, while we attempt to make sense of current events, we must remember that discrimination in any form can be as destructive as any virus. The only way to prevent that destruction is for our diverse tennis community to make a commitment to respect and care for each other at all times. 

USTA Mid-Atlantic has made that commitment to respect and care. We don’t just preach diversity and inclusion, this is who we are and what we value as an organization (click here to read more). And we use our values to work toward our mission to grow the sport of tennis by creating accessible and inclusive opportunities that enrich ALL lives (click here to find out more). Our vision is tennis for EVERY community. We believe that not only is tennis for everyone but that through the sport of tennis we can improve lives by fostering health, connections, communication, and community.

We, at USTA Mid-Atlantic, recognize that fulfilling our mission takes time and effort. So we have created a listing of resources to read, listen, watch and act upon which emphasizes materials from tennis, sports, and the Mid-Atlantic region. Over the coming weeks, we are adding to these resources and we are using them to listen and engage with each other within our organization and with our tennis family at large. We will continue to share these out with you and invite you to join us on this journey as we work to create a happier, healthier, and more inclusive community.

Read:

• Ways of Grace: Stories of Activism, Adversity and How Sports Can Bring Us Together by James Blake & Carol Taylor
• Arthur Ashe: A Life by Raymond Arsenault
• Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis for kids ages 5-8
• We Matter: Athletes and Activism by Etan Thomas
• The Match: Althea Gibson & Angela Buxton: How Two Outsiders--One Black, the Other Jewish--Forged a Friendship and Made Sports History by Bruce Schoenfeld
• The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson Illustrated by Rafael López 
• Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi