 |
The Games of Tennis by Bernard A. Chavis Infinity Publishing
book review by J. Alpha
"Within the sport of tennis, as in other parts of life, there are other games that are played that are not just on court."
The Games of Tennis is a well-documented account of Bernard A. Chavis's life focus on drawing attention to racial prejudice, exclusionary practices, and cultural insensitivities in the sport of tennis. As an African American, Chavis's interest in tennis has brought him great enjoyment, satisfaction, and challenge... "tennis was not blind to race, ethnicity, age, religion, income level, ability or disability, gender or sexual orientation."
In addition to providing a concise, informative, and interesting overview of the history of the United States Tennis Association (USTA)—from the days it barred African and Chinese Americans from participating in tournaments, to today's more concentrated efforts to include minorities into the organization—The Games of Tennis is infused with numerous letters, meeting records, media clips, questioners, and photographs, as well as Chavis's detailed accounts of the meetings and historical events that have comprised his accomplished and often challenging journey through his many administrative roles in local, regional, and national positions with the USTA and American Tennis Associations.
As Chavis writes in his prologue... "the purpose of this book is not to criticize or blame any person, group of people, or organization, but rather to offer my insights and examples of what I found to be the insensitivity and lack of cultural understanding in society—barriers that have prohibited a level playing field for races, ethnicities, and cultures coming together for equal participation and the common good." As the first African American to serve as President of the USTA Philadelphia Area Tennis District (1994) and the first to referee a USTA national championship tournament, Chavis's authoritative and well-informed narrative voice, combined with listings of some of the African American player and administrative firsts in the sport of tennis, avoids a "chip on the shoulder" tone and instead delivers a rich and very personalized perspective of the sport of tennis that both spectators and players of the sport of tennis will find very insightful.
Named a "Living American History Maker" in 2005, by the Berean Institute in Philadelphia, Bernard A. Chavis resides in the Philadelphia suburb of Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania, with his wife Mila and son Bernard, 3rd.