Tennis Hits the Books (and Sometimes Media)
Citizen Ashe is a recently released documentary about Arthur Ashe. The film traces the entire arc of Ashe’s life from early childhood all the way through to his death from AIDS-related pneumonia in 1992. I was surprised at how much detail the producers managed to pack into the movie with a relatively short runtime. It delivered new insight and perspectives while remaining entertaining for a wide range of audiences. Tennis history buffs, casual players, and even people who aren’t interested in tennis or civil rights at all will likely enjoy the movie.
Citizen Ashe is packed with archival video and photos including some of Althea Gibson and other black tennis pioneers. The footage also included short clips of Dr. Walter Johnson, who ran a storied player development program for black players out of his own residence where Ashe spent many of his formative years. In addition to on-court development activities, the players in the academy were encouraged to to regularly read books about tennis.
Ashe was undeniably a transformational player in tennis. While he wasn’t the first male player of color to compete, he won major championships and competed at the highest echelons of professional tennis. His life story is intertwined with the civil rights movement. Ashe’s soft-spoken demeanor was in sharp contrast to many of the other key activists which at times created the misperception that he lacked commitment to the cause. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
The documentary details the lasting impact that Ashe made not only in the tennis world, but also on civil rights and society. He didn’t shy away from controversy or tough topics, but rather effected world change through his quiet, thoughtful, and patient approach. He was so much more than just a tennis player.
Tennis fans will likely be aware that Ashe was dedicated to Davis Cup competition as both a player and captain. It is also common knowledge that there was tension between Ashe and Jimmy Connors for a variety of reasons including the fact that Connors regularly refused to play for his country. Citizen Ashe brought a new appreciation for the level of enmity between the two men.
Toward the end of the documentary, Ashe’s wife Jeanne is pictured going through some of the books from Ashe’s extensive personal library. That intentional inclusion underscores just how important books were to Ashe. He was famously well-read which shaped who he was as a person as well as his place in history.
Citizen Ashe premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in September 2021 and went into limited release last December. The film is currently available for purchase or rental from Amazon. I highly recommend it.
 | Citizen Ashe |
