( Photos by: Splash News & Matthew Stockman/Getty Images )
Venus & Serena Williams put their game faces on at Opening Night of the US Open, held at the Arthur Ashe Stadium last night. There was a special guest performance by Aretha Franklin and a pre-game ceremony honoring black women in history including Althea Gibson, the first African-American woman to be a competitor on a world tennis tour. Also honored was the first black female astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, Olympic medalists Debi Thomas, Jackie Joyner Kersee and more.
The Williams sisters went on to win their matches and are advancing to the next round. I recommend that everyone read these great articles at yahoo.com & newsday.com about the event. Black Star Power at its finest!
i luv black ppl
FINALLY, SOMETHING NEWS WORTHY!!!!! IM FROM COMPTON CALIFORNIA AND PROUD THE SISTA’S ARE REPPIN’ US ALL! WAY TO GO! WHITE AMERICA SHOULD HAVE THEIR “SUPERSTARS” TAKE A LOOK…..LINDSEY, BRITNEY, AMY WINO-HOUSE, ETC…..WE ARE DOING THE DAMN THANG YALL!
Glad to Aretha still doing her thing!
Go venus!!!!!
Go head Black people. I love Venus and Serena. Very positive sisters. You gotta love them.
Wow everyone looks good great to see black people out supporting each other nice!!! Congrats to Venus and Serena!!
OOhh i luv serenas hair
i watched it last night it was awesome. phylicia rashad looks beautiful
LOL Richard Williams reminds me of my paw-paw with those shorts on
EEeewww!!!! I’m no fan of Star Jones, but she can do so much better than that low-life Al. He looks so gay to me and I just couldn’t be with a man that looks fruity. I think she was jujst desparate to have a man by her side she settled for him and the love just grew
Phylicia Rashad is gorgeous! Aging only made her look better! Love Sarena’s face in that last picture! Black is BEAUTIFUL!
Yes I love it!!!!!
I meant Glad to see Aretha still doing her thing
Go Venus and Serena, those are my girls right there, they make us proud. Aretha Franklin needs our prayers and our help from Star Jones to lose weight. Star Jones lost weight and got herself a fine man Al he looks good. Aretha please lose weight before you have a heart attack. Love your voice, but you look a mess.
The fact that Phylicia Rashad was there is enough for me lol.I love her
Glad everyone came out to support the Williams sisters. Black people represent.
Common looks gorgeous as usual
I used to think Phylicia Rashad aka Mrs Cosby was so fine. She has aged gracefully. I’ll put her to bed, bed, bed
Richard Williams is crazier than a fish with titties. Venus and Serena buy that man some pants, PLEASE! He probably thinking Tina Turner ain’t got shit on my legs.
Just good to see blacks coming together for a good cause
BLACK STAR UNITY & POWER
Wow. Nice. All these legends in one place is the business (Aretha, Roberta, Zina, Debi, Jackie, Gladys …). Phylicia Rashad is georgeous. Loves her.
I’ll never get tired of seeing Common. Even Starr looks nice here. Sorry I can’t say the same for Al. He looks like a retarded reporter. I know that’s not politically correct. So sue me.
What has happened to Zina Garrison? Is she expecting? No, Serena’s hair does not look good….look VERY CLOSELY at the front…oh girl, needs to get a relaxer!
@17 CRAZIER THAN A FISH WITH TITTIES! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU FROM? I’VE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF THAT!!!LOL
WOw Debi ( or should I call her Dr. Thomas) looks the same. I remember watching her when I was in elementary school during the 1988 Olympics, it was 88 right? Finally, a post that doesn’t involve blind items, rumors, hoes, bad weaves or skanks.
Where Aretha Franklin is concerned the first step, is her family and friends need to do an intervention. Admit your problem is food. Once Aretha admits she has a problem form a circle around her and throw away all of her food, then her son has to make her run track or walk. I’m thinking Aretha is like the fat chick on Norbit, thinks she is fine and skinny people are evil and not fine, wake up Aretha you look a hot mess, please do an intervention.
I got it from R. Kelly’s trapped in the closet. After he said that I just cut it off. That’s all I needed to hear.
Y’all b**ches are too fast… (still embarrassed, but it’s all good)
Phylicia Rashad looks really good, though
Most of these folks look good.
Wow! @ Aretha’s…ummm…wig/weave.
Damn Common….could you please be my baby daddy! You are so fine!!!!!!
Wow that was a celebrity event.
I am too weak @ # 17, J. Lewis’ avatar.
I was wondering who that was in the picture with Gladys.
Glad the girls one good luck to them and I agree #11 Phylicia Rashad looks beautiful and Janet is lookin good too
OH MY GOD!
WHAT A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATION OF BLACK STAR POWER!
ARETHA FRANKLIN LOOKS ESPECIALLY NICE-
EVERYONE ELSE DOES ALSO!
CONGRATS TO THE WILLIAM SISTERS-THEY ARE SO TALENTED
I’m gonna be Richard Williams for Halloween! No more lotion until November 1st!!!!
J. Lewis, I am at work, you gonna get me into trouble. The girl behind me just turned around to ask what I was laughing at.
Say it loud I’m black and I’m proud. Love it
@33, Blame it on Akon
Good for everybody and LOL @ J Lewis
Debbie Thomas, Zina Garrison, Phylicia Rashad, I am in heaven, Richard Williams look like Cousin’ Pete from Poetic Justice, I’m sure Janet had a flash back when she seen his ass.
Janet is starting to look like LaToya. creepy
AL LOOKS A MESS IN DAT PIC, SERENA AND VENUS’S BODIES ARE BANGIN! CLAIR IS GETTIN OLD! SO MUCH GRACE THOUGH. JANET LOOKS CONFUSED, LOVE HER BRACELETS, AND COMMON IS FINE, I LOVE HIS SWAG, AND I REMEMBER SEEING ROBERTA FLACK IN CONCERT WHEN I WAS LITTLE AT A CONCERT SHE DID FOR THE SOILDERS AND SHE VALLED ME UP ON STAGE, SHE WAS SO SWEET AND NICE………
Janet looks great!
As does..Star, Common, & Philycia
MRS ARETHA LOST ALOT OF WRIGHT….GO HEAD WIT YOUR BAD SELF.
PHYLICIA LOOKS AMAZING…SHE LOOKS GOOD FOR HER AGE
STAR LOOKS GREAT…LOVE HER DRESS AND SHOES
I LOVE ME SOME ROBERTA FLACK
GALE AND DAUGHTER LOOK GREAT….
JANET EVEN CAME OUT…THATS WAZ UP
CONGRATS DR MAE JAMISON….YOU ARE HISTORY GIRL.
I ALMOST SHED A TEAR AS ALL THOSE GROUND BREAKING WOMEN APPLAUDED VENUS AS SHE WALKED OUT OF THE LOCKER ROOM
DEFINITELY A MOMENT FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS!
what a beautiful thing
african american people
coming together
I LUV IT!!
*CRACKIN THE HELL UP*
BLACKS SUPPORTING BLACKS…JUST AS IT SHOULD BE!!!
Where was Oprah?
Phylicia Rashad is absolutely radiant! She’s just the epitome of elegance and class. Always has been, too.
LOL@ #37 – NO CHICAGO! YOUR DYCK’S THE MUTHAF^&**IN PROBLEM!
Yeah J. Lewis you gotta cut it out, got me chokin on my water. I was like, did he just crop Mr. Williams’ kneecaps and turn it into his avatar? Silly!
Look at Claire Huxtable!!! Main she doesn’t age. Everybody looks good even Al and Star!
everyone does look great! Aretha did lost some weight so it’s good she’s doing it the right way instead of trying to yank it out of her body with a vacuum. It’s hard to lose weight when you’re older, too, so I good luck to her. This is a great event to see!
^lose
AAAAHHHHW HELLL NAW, I JUST CAUGHT THAT NEW AVATAR ON # 35
*IN TEARS LITERALLY*
LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOO J. motherf%cking Lewis. CUT IT OUT
@17 that is too funny. Fish titties. I’ll be laughing at that the rest of the day and using it from here on. Mr. Williams need cocoa butter, baby oil, vaseline, bacon grease and vicks vapor rub on them ashy knees.
I’m telling ya, if you don’t come correct out the house…you going in my avatar.
But Richard Williams does deserve Fashion Icon of the Year!!
Star Jones looks betta n betta every time I see her ……………..
Congrats to the William’s sisters. Star has finally worked it out…I don’t know if her head needed to shrink or she started wearing her hair in more flattering way, but lately she has been looking very good. Good for her!
Gorgeous Black people. Gayle King’s daughter is a Q.T
Janet please come up with something new. The baggy pants look is tired, perhaps she wore them to smuggle JD into the ceremony.
Serena and Venus have stepped up their style. Good stuff ladies.
Star anything that covers up that dreadful cleavage is a great choice. No one wants to see those deflated water baloons.
Common…mmmmmhmmm good.
Roberta Flack needs some flack for that bad facelift.
Got to love Mr. Williams he is to tennis fashion as Bjork was to the Oscars.
Message to Aretha: G-A-S-T-R-I-C B-Y-P-A-S-S
A lot of vets in the house!
May I say that the Williams sisters look absolutely lovely, BUT
The wig-wearing divas- all of them with the poodles and skunk on their heads (Janet, you too) are embarrassing to see.
Damn brown put some lotion on them knees!
Aretha, sweetie please at dinner eat three plates instead of four,
take baby steps.