Arthur Ashe: Tennis Legend, Activist, and Kappa Alpha Psi Brother

Before he became a global icon for skill, integrity, and activism, Arthur Ashe walked the path of brotherhood as a dedicated member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. 

Arthur Robert Ashe Jr., born in Richmond, Virginia, was more than a legendary athlete — he was a trailblazer. He remains the only Black man to have won singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open, finishing his career with 51 titles and 818 match wins.

While studying on a tennis scholarship at UCLA, Ashe pledged the Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, aligning himself with a fraternity committed to excellence and service. 

After college, Ashe served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968—stationed at West Point—but continued competing even in uniform. During that time, he won the first U.S. Open as an amateur, making history as the only Black man to win it under such circumstances. 

Off the court, Ashe’s activism was just as formidable. He co-founded the National Junior Tennis League to bring opportunities to underserved youth, fought against apartheid, advocated for Haitian refugees, and openly addressed HIV after a transfusion left him infected. 

He helped establish organizations such as the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS and the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health. Ashe also authored A Hard Road to Glory, a landmark chronicle of Black athletes, and wrote a moving memoir, Days of Grace, in his final months. 

Though Ashe passed away in 1993, his spirit lives on through the Arthur Ashe Stadium, his philanthropic institutions, and the standard he set: not just to win, but to uplift. Within Kappa Alpha Psi and the wider Black Greek community, his legacy stands as a powerful reminder of excellence, courage, and service.

Source & inspiration: WatchTheYard.com