Serena Williams thanks her mom for teaching her the 'power of a black woman'
A few weeks after becoming a mother, ace tennis player Serena Williams penned a heartfelt letter to her own mom.
Williams who posted the letter on Reddit, the discussion website co-founded by her fiance Alexis Ohanian, paid tribute to her mother Oracene Price, telling her that she is “one of the strongest women I know.”
“I was looking at my daughter (OMG, yes, I have a daughter) and she has my arms and legs,” wrote the 35-year-old athlete. “My exact same strong, muscular, powerful, sensational arms and body. I don’t know how I would react if she has to go through what I’ve gone through since I was a 15-year-old and even to this day.”
Williams went on to speak about dealing with sexism and body-shaming: “I’ve been called [a] man because I appeared outwardly strong. It has been said that I use drugs (No, I have always had far too much integrity to behave dishonestly in order to gain an advantage.) It has been said I don’t belong in women’s sports — that I belong in Men’s — because I look stronger than many other women do. (No, I just work hard and I was born with this badass body and proud of it.)”
“But mom, I’m not sure how you did not go off on every single reporter, person, announcer and quite frankly, hater, who was too ignorant to understand the power of a black woman."
The star told Mama Williams that she is “proud” that, together, they “were able to show them what some women look like.”
“We don’t all look the same. We are curvy, strong, muscular, tall, small, just to name a few, and all the same: we are women and proud!”
“Thank you for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships that I now regard as a challenges — ones that I enjoy. I hope to teach my baby Alexis Olympia the same, and have the same fortitude you have had,” added Williams, concluding, “Promise me, Mom, that you will continue to help. I’m not sure if I am as meek and strong as you are yet. I hope to get there one day. I love you dearly."
The tennis champion and Alexis Ohanian welcomed their daughter Alexis Olympia on September 1.
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