In 2012, after Washington Capitals’ Joel Ward scored the series-clinching overtime goal against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Twitter exploded with racist messages directed at the Black hockey player.
During the 2001 Tennis Masters Series tournament in Indian Wells, Calif., racism reared its ugly head after player Venus Williams withdrew four minutes prior to her semifinal match against her sister Serena. Serena was subsequently booed during the championship match against Kim Clijsters and during the trophy presentation.
After sitting in the stadium during Serena’s match, their father, Richard Williams, said: “The white people at Indian Wells, what they’ve been wanting to say all along to us finally came out: ‘Nigger, stay away from here, we don’t want you here.'”
Venus has stated without elaboration, “I heard what he heard,” referring to her father’s recollection.
Neither Williams sister has played this tournament since.
