A throwback video has surfaced of Venus Williams’ dad defending her confidence after a white journalist questioned it
It’s no secret that Serena and Venus Williams have many reasons to be proud. They’re incredible athletes who have broken tennis records both together and solo, and they have a famously strong bond as sisters. Knowing what we know today, it’s downright baffling to think that someone might have ever questioned what they had to be confident about. However, one (white, male) interviewer asked Venus just that in a throwback video that recently resurfaced on YouTube. And her father, Richard Williams, wasn’t having it.
The video, which was shared by Twitter user Ric Wilson on August 28th, features a clip of 14-year-old Venus in an interview on ABC News’ Day One in 1995. In the clip, correspondent John McKenzie asks the up-and-coming tennis star if she thinks she can beat an opponent she’s about to face. When Venus smiles and says she knows she can win the match, McKenzie looks surprised.
"You know you can beat her?" he asks, before remarking, "Very confident."
"I'm very confident," Venus confirms.
"You say it so easily. Why?" McKenzie asks.
At that moment, Venus’s father steps in, criticizing the journalist for questioning his daughters response.
"You’ve got to understand that you’re dealing with [the] image of a 14-year-old child," Williams tells McKenzie. "And this child is gonna be out there playing when your old ass and me are gonna be in the grave. You’re dealing with a little black kid, and let her be a kid. She [...] answered with a lot of confidence. Leave that alone!"
This video of Richard Williams defending Venus's confidence when she was 14 yr old is the best video on the internet pic.twitter.com/NqnCRJsLLf
— new song out now (@RicWilson) August 29, 2018
Many Twitter users applauded Williams for sticking up for his daughter and for making sure no one made her feel like she shouldn’t have a strong sense of self-worth.
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Richard Williams (& Oracene) gave us the 2 greatest tennis champs eva Knew nothing abt tennis. Learned from a book & video tape and taught those girls. That man does NOT get enough respect. The world wasn't ready 4 him. But he was like TAKE ME AS I AM & my girls will DOMINATE!
— Tracee Loran (@traceeloran) August 29, 2018
Most dope!!! Don’t question her confidence just know!!! And the fact that he didn’t allow that dude to put a smidge of doubt in his baby
— JayBeNoble (@Jaydetroits) August 29, 2018
Others pointed out that McKenzie’s line of questioning felt like a subtle put-down.
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As a teacher I see this all the time. White teachers can get real uncomfortable when students of color exhibit what biased teachers consider “white behaviors”- confidence, intellect, articulation, self advocacy. They respond with control & power- an attempt to silence them
— aimee havens (@jostledhaven) August 30, 2018
And for anyone out there who thinks Richard Williams overreacted, consider this: A 2011 survey from the United Kingdom’s Institute of Leadership and Management found that only half of women had high or relatively high levels of confidence (compared to 70% of men). More relevant still, a 2017 survey of 2,000 women performed by Glamour and L’Oreal Paris found that only 44% of black women describe themselves as successful.
Richard Williams was merely attempting to make sure his daughter’s confidence remained in tact in a world that regularly questions, scrutinizes, and diminishes the achievements of black girls and women.
We’re bowing down to this fierce father—and his fiercely talented daughter.
