Tennis Champion,Serena Williamswho recently welcomed her first childAlexis Olympia Ohanian Jrwith her fiance,Alexis Ohaniantook to his platform, Reddit to post an emotionalopen letter to her mother, following the birth of their newborn daughter.
She wrote:
Dear Mom,You are one of the strongest women I know. I was looking at my daughter (OMG, yes, I have a daughter ?) and she hasmy arms and legs! My exact same strong, muscular, powerful,s£nsat!onal arms and body. I don't know how I would react ifshe has to go through what I've gone through since I was a 15 year old and even to this day.I've been called man because I appeared outwardly strong. It has been said that that I use drugs (No, I have always had far too much integrity to behavedishonestly in order to gain an advantage). It has been said Idon't belong in Women's sports -- that I belong in Men's -- because I look stronger than many other women do. (No, I just work hard and I was born with this badass body and proudof it).But mom, I'm not sure how you did not go off on every single reporter, person, announcer and quite frankly, hater, who was tooignorant to understand the powerof a black woman.I am proud we were able to showthem what some women look like. We don't all look the same. We are curvy, strong, muscular, tall, small, just to name a few, and all the same: we are women and proud!You are so classy, I only wish I could take your lead. I am trying, though, and God is not done with me yet. I have a LONG way to go, but thank you.Thank you for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships that I now regardas a challenges--ones that I enjoy. I hope to teach my baby Alexis Olympia the same, and have the same fortitude you have had.Promise me, Mom, that you will continue to help. I'm not sure if I am as meek and strongas you are yet. I hope to get there one day. I love you dearly.Your youngest of five,Serena
