Arthur Ashe was born on July 10, 1943, in Richmond, Virginia. He broke numerous racial barriers in tennis, becoming the first Black man to win the singles titles at the US Open (1968), Australian Open (1970), and Wimbledon (1975). In 1963, Ashe became the first African American selected for the U.S. Davis Cup team, contributing to multiple victories over his decade-long participation. ?

Beyond his athletic achievements, Ashe was a dedicated activist. He opposed apartheid in South Africa, advocated for education and inner-city youth programs, and raised awareness about HIV/AIDS after contracting the virus from a blood transfusion during heart surgery. He publicly disclosed his diagnosis in 1992 and passed away from AIDS-related pneumonia on February 6, 1993, at the age of 49. ?Encyclopedia Britannica

Ashe’s legacy endures through the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, the largest tennis stadium in the world, and the Arthur Ashe Foundation, which continues his work in health and social justice.?