On this week’s episode, wediscuss the biographical drama “King Richard” and its portrayal of the story of Richard Williams and his 78-page-plan to make his daughters Venus and Serena into world renowned tennis champions. Placing the film in conversation with HBO’s recent docuseries on Tiger Woods, and more, we explore how fame, racial capitalism, and industry exclusivity influence relationships between Black parents and their children within sports and other entertainment spaces. Connecting this phenomenon to the broader history of Black children positioned as vanguards for integration efforts, we ask what the cost is/has been in the development of young Black trailblazers.
