Tennis phenomena doubles as women’s activist, inspires local girls

Tennis legend and activist for social equality Billie Jean King spoke at the Century Link Center on Sept. 16 to hundreds of attendees, donors, and volunteers for Girls, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young girls and leading them towards a positive future.

King was chosen by a board affiliated with Girls Inc. that arranges the organization’s annual event “Lunch for the Girls.” The Executive Director of Girls Inc., Roberta Wilhelm, suggested in a meeting that King speak at the event, but unsure how to contact her or if she would be willing. Fortunately, Susie Buffett, an acquaintance of King, is another member of the organization. Buffett proposed the idea to King and she excitedly accepted.

King was chosen as a speaker because she exemplifies the motto of Girls Inc., “Strong, smart, bold.” King has a long history of striving for equality in women’s athletics. She established the Women’s Tennis Association, as well as the Women’s Sports Foundation. She has spoken at many events regarding female equality and advancement, and was eventually given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to a civilian. Years later, at 71 years old, she continues to energetically fight for the cause.

When King began to play tennis at a young age, very few women were involved. Even if women were interested in playing, funding at clubs and public schools for women’s sports were drastically less than the funding for men’s sports, as Title IX had not been passed in legislation yet.

King also has helped to make strides in the prevalence of women of color in sports. “In my sport, I didn’t see anyone of color, and I thought, ‘Where’s everyone else?’” she said.

The final cause that King fights fiercely for is LGBT equality. King has a personal connection to the cause herself; for most of her life she has undergone the emotional turmoil that goes along with being gay. She encourages all less advantaged groups, including women, minorities and LGBT people to be true to themselves and follow their dreams. In her speech at the luncheon she encouraged the girls to have a positive outlook on life.
“We are what we think. Attitude is vital,” King said.

Past speakers at Lunch for the Girls includes Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, and Warren Buffett. The event is centered on promoting gender equality, and encouraging young underprivileged girls to seek success and an enjoyable lifestyle.

At the luncheon, King spoke to young members of Girls Inc. before giving her speech to the entire audience, one that included Mayor Jean Stothert, Susie Buffett, and several members of the Omaha Public School board.

She took photos with the girls, at one point saying that they “looked like winners” in the photo, but she wanted to look “like champions.” She also had conversations with them, asking the girls about their “goals and dreams,” hoping to hear future career plans and academic goals. The answers ranged with each girl, from lawyer, to architectural engineer, to OB GYN. King praised the young women for having dreams, promising them that that was the “first and most important step in being successful.”

In her personal conversations with the girls, she also encouraged them to look at the world through a wide scope.

“It is more important to be interested than interesting,” she said. “You’re not interesting if you aren’t interested in anyone else.”