Nurah Speaks

Richard Williams is a genius. He produced the gods who ruled over tennis and changed the game forever. He is a brilliant black man. FULL STOP. Some of the press for the film depicting his life as a father and tennis coach is highlighting our culture’s disdain and scorn for Black men. We know Richard Williams because he gave us Venus and Serena. However, recent articles published with the release of the film deals with his alleged failings as a husband. One such article ‘King Richard' And The Delicate Dance Of Exalting A Flawed Black Man puts attention on the conflicts in his marriage suggesting the film is idealized and lacking authenticity for not addressing his and Oracene’s marital issues. Can a Black man, can this Black man be celebrated without qualification? “He did great, but…” The title, '...the delicate dance of exalting a flawed black man….is written as if you can find any man without flaws. There needs not to be a delicate dance to exalt a flawed man because all men - and women - have flaws.