Foreign psychologists suggest that both Venus and Serena Williams chose to marry white partners to protect their children from racial discrimination.

Recently, American tennis star Venus Williams finally entered into marriage at the age of 45, receiving many congratulations from celebrities and fans alike. However, some have questioned why both Venus and Serena chose to marry white partners instead of black men of their own race.

In response, Dr. Johnson, a well-known African American psychologist, recently stated in an interview that the Williams sisters’ decision to marry white men stems from the racial trauma they experienced in professional tennis.

Dr. Johnson explained his reasoning: he believes that the sisters entered and dominated a sport traditionally dominated by white athletes but were never fully accepted by that community, with many unable to forgive (his exact words) their success.

Therefore, according to him, the Williams sisters’ marital choices serve as a psychological defense mechanism. To protect their self-esteem and to ensure their future children do not face the racial hostility and discrimination they endured, they chose white partners. He implied that such a choice would make their children’s appearance less similar to their mothers’, thus helping them avoid similar racial struggles.

It is worth noting that Dr. Johnson has long identified himself as an unapologetic African and a staunch Pan-Africanist. He opposes interracial marriage, believing it undermines the sanctity of “African families.”

Nonetheless, the Williams sisters’ careers have indeed been marked by significant racial challenges. One of the most notable examples was their experience at the 2001 Indian Wells tournament.

At that time, the sisters faced each other in the women’s singles semifinals, but Venus withdrew before the match due to a knee injury. In the final, although Serena won the championship, she was subjected to continuous boos and malicious racial insults from the crowd.

“I played in front of 14,000 fans who jeered at me,” Serena wrote in her diary. “People shouted, ‘Go back to Compton!’” Since then, the Williams family vowed never to return to Indian Wells, even if it meant paying heavy fines every year. This stance lasted until 2014 when the situation finally improved.

Academic research has also confirmed the existence of such differential treatment. A 2020 study pointed out that Serena’s “Blackness” challenged tennis stereotypes, leading her to face additional prejudices such as being labeled as having urban behavior, disrespecting authority, and being prone to violence. The study clearly stated: “There is no doubt that Serena has been unfairly treated and criticized more because she is African American.”

However, Dr. Johnson’s views have sparked multiple criticisms. Some online users argue that this so-called psychologist’s simplistic attribution of complex personal decisions to a single factor is flawed. Marriage choices are influenced by many factors, including personal feelings, shared experiences, and value alignment. This argument is too one-sided and completely ignores the Williams sisters’ autonomy as individuals.

“They are intelligent, mature, and business-savvy women capable of taking responsibility for their own decisions,” an angry commenter from abroad stated.

Other users expressed disbelief, saying, “This is unbelievable! It’s not only an insult to them but also potentially harmful to interracial families and their children, implying these families are formed out of psychological trauma rather than love and commitment.”

Currently, Dr. Johnson’s social media is flooded with critics who believe his analysis is overly simplistic. One user fiercely commented, “This robs the Williams sisters of their autonomy over their own lives, portraying them as passive victims of racism rather than masters of their own fate.” Another wrote, “This logic resembles past racist arguments against interracial marriage, just repackaged.”

Nathaniel De La Peña, a political science and history scholar at Louisiana State University, systematically challenged Dr. Johnson’s perspective. He believes Johnson’s opposition to interracial marriage reflects a rejection of the multicultural society America has developed over time.

De La Peña countered, “Interracial marriage is a powerful tool against white supremacy.” He argued that such relationships allow white partners to experience or empathize with the feelings of the ‘other.’

A blog post from Duke University noted that before the Williams sisters appeared, “Tennis was very resistant to change and did not fully accept black players.” The article also stated, “When I was thrown against a stark white background, I felt the most colorful,” aptly describing the situation of black players in the predominantly white tennis world.

However, the article optimistically added, “Although much still needs to be improved, the Williams sisters have removed many barriers for African American tennis players.”

The crisp sound of tennis rackets hitting fuzzy balls lasts longer than the noise itself—it symbolizes the quiet progress of change. While we today may not fully grasp the pain caused by racial discrimination, prejudice is still everywhere around us: North-South divides, gender conflicts, social isolation and indifference toward people with disabilities—these are all thorns buried in our hearts that cause deep pain. What are your thoughts on this matter? Feel free to share them in the comments section.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)