Narrative:

Having played tennis since I was 5 years old, I may be bias when I say Serena Williams

is the best tennis player to play the game. She is not only the best tennis player, but I believe she

is the greatest athlete to ever play a sport. Through experiencing poverty in her early days to

fighting sexism and racism her entire career, Serena shows grit and adversity every day. Serena

Williams speaks out against her constant racist and sexist attacks towards her, making her an

activist for change. Along with being an activist, she works with many philanthropies to give

back to community. For my Journey Box, I focus on Serena Williams’ career beginning from her

childhood in the 1990’s and discussing her controversies and fight for rights during the 2000’s. I

created a Journey Box that is relevant to a 5th grade social studies classroom, covering standards

5.1.20, 5.2.8, and 5.2.10.

I chose to focus on Serena Williams for my Journey Box because she embodies the

strength, grit, and fight that many black women face today. I want students to connect challenges

she has faced with other historical concepts that lead to the discrimination Serena faces even

today. In serena’s life, she has been faced with poverty, sexism, and racism. These concepts are

discussed in the history curriculum and allow students to interpret events of these challenging

matters.

Through my Journey Box, I wanted to create a narrative that highlights Serena Williams

as the greatest athlete, activist, leader, and spokesperson that she is. She is often highlighted as

the racist remarks of being an “angry black women.” There is much hate surrounded by Serena

Williams because she is a strong, confident, assertive leader. I wanted to share a narrative that

empowers women and shows the impact Serena Williams has on the world. I began my Journey

Box with the beginning of Serena’s journey with tennis. I wanted to show Serena’s past because
that shaped her to becoming the greatest tennis player of all time. My next page is titled,

“Greatest of All Time,” which shows proof of how Serena Williams is the greatest tennis player

and athlete there is. The next page is titled “Discrimination against Serena.” On this page, I

wanted to show the racist and sexist comments that Serena faces often. I thought this was

important to show the awful words people say even in the 2000’s about black women. I highlight

this because Serena fights discrimination every day when many other athletes do not experience

this. This proves how much strength she has t continue in her sport, despite what she experiences

on and off the court. My next page is “Rights,” where I highlight rights Serena fights for and

philanthropies, she is part of. This was important for me to add last because it ties in what Serena

fights for because of the discrimination and sexism she faces.

I would implement my Journey Box in my classroom to highlight on discrimination and

challenges black women still face today in sports and in everyday life. Usually in history

classroom, modern day living, and current issues is taught towards the end of the year after

learning history of the country. I also want to use this journey box as a way for students to

recognize citizen’s voices and how citizens use their voices for good. By analyzing my journey

box, they get a sense of how someone can use their voice for change and activism. I would

incorporate my Journey Box during the end of the course to discuss current issues of women in

sports today. With this, students can analyze what challenges Serena faces and the rights she

fights for her and other women.

Serena Williams is to many the Greatest Athlete of All Time. She has had an early career

of tennis, which has continued to flourish as she continues her career. Through her tennis career,

she has faced racist and sexist bigotry on the court and outside the court. She fights for herself

and others with women’s rights and black rights as well. Her upbringing and career are important
aspects to teach in a history class and allow students to discuss her impacts on the world. My

Journey Box displays Serena’s life and discusses important topics that students can dive deep in

and discuss in their history class.

Standards- Grade 5 Social Studies

5.1.20 Using primary and secondary sources to examine an historical account about an issue of

the time, reconstruct the literal meaning of the passages by identifying who was involved, what

happened, where it happened, what events led to these developments, and what consequences or

outcomes followed.

5.2.8 Describe group and individual actions that illustrate civic virtues, such as civility,

cooperation, respect, and responsible participation.

5.2.10 Use a variety of information resources to identify and evaluate contemporary issues that

involve civic responsibility, individual rights, and the common good.