What Happens if Sloane Takes Serena's Spot?

So, living in Atlanta, I deal with a fair amount of gossip surrounding black tennis players.  I usually do not get into it.  However, I will acknowledge this: the unconditional love that black women have for each other is probably the strongest out of any minority group.  And that is a good thing.  To be able to create your own self sustaining click in which you can draw power and give your power to other black women is pretty impressive to me.

What I think speaks volumes for it is when there was a little rift between Sloane Stephens and Serena Williams.  First, Serena was mentoring Sloane, then Sloane beat an injured Serena on the court and then people said Serena was done.  And then there was some trash talking.  What I found was interesting, though, is that even though there was a story, I never heard any black woman take any side.

What is clear to me is that these two women represent two different types of black women.  Where Serena became a champion first and had to learn more about the game in her later years, Sloane chooses to learn about the game first and possibly become a champion later.

When the Williams Sisters' success brought more black women and men to the tennis courts, it was Serena's style that a lot of women adopted.  She is winning things, who doesn't want to back a champion?  My questions is, are you sold on the idea so much that you can condone her yelling at and threatening people?  And if so, does that mean you should be able to do those things even though it totally devalues the sport.  It is frustrating when you feel that people are cheating you.  I get it.  But really, it's tennis.  Acting like Serena does not guarantee anything but that you will be irritating to most people you or your children play.  You just can't be that way without GAME.

Anyway, if Sloane Stephens at some point becomes the number one player, what happens if most of the racial atrocities that happened to Serena don't happen to her?  What if she is able to roll through like Roger Federer just being nice to people and winning.  Would we say that the world is getting better because of Serena or would we be able to admit that people have problems with Serena because she is scary.  The answer would be that it is a little of both.  But could black women specifically admit that maybe Serena's way of doing things is not helpful for anyone but herself?  And will Sloane Stevens get the same strength of support from black women if she does not scream at people or threaten them?  I sure hope so, I definitely would love if more people have Stephens' attitude.  From the juniors I've talked to and seen play, its normally not so bad.  I'm all for black women that are not threatening.