On this day in ...... 1957, New Yorker Althea Gibson became the 1st African-American Wimbledon singles champion. Gibson "routed Darlene Hard, the Montebello (Calif.) waitress, 6-3, 6-2, for the all-England crown." Later in the day the 2, pictured at right, joined ranks to beat an Australian pair for the Wimbledon doubles title, Gibson's
2d. (photo credit) Fifty years and 364 days later -- that is, yesterday -- both competitors for the 2008 singles title were African-Americans: Venus Williams bested Serena Williams. Together, Venus (far left) and Serena (near left) then took the doubles title. (photo credit)... 1923 (85 years ago today), the Constit
ution of 1922 for the Soviet Union entered into force, thus establishing the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (map at right).
