"I was close to being killed so many times, a hell of a lot" - When Venus Williams' father Richard made brutally honest admission about facing racism

Serena and Venus Williams' father, Richard, once made a candid admission about his experiences with racism as a Black man in America. He revealed that he was no stranger to it and, on several occasions, came dangerously close to "being killed.”

Richard grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, before moving to Saginaw, Michigan, Long Beach, California, and eventually to Compton. His goal was to provide his daughters with a tough environment to help shape their mentality.

During his childhood, he had already encountered the harsh reality of racism. He once shared that he had witnessed a friend being lynched in the 1940s and 50s, an experience that deeply affected him.

The 82-year-old recalled the death of another friend who was run over by a white woman. The woman claimed it was the victim's fault, and Richard stated that there was no police investigation or any action taken.

“There was no investigation, there was no police car. But that was life. I was close to being killed so many times. A hell of a lot of times,” Venus Williams’ father Richard told CNN in 2015.

Talking about moving to Compton with his daughters, he said:

“In order to be successful you must prepare for the unexpected – and I wanted to prepare for that. Criticism can bring the best out of you.”

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"That's the hardest time in the world I've ever had” - Venus Williams’ father Richard on Indian Wells racism controversy

Venus Williams and father Richard at Indian Wells in 2001 Tennis Masters Series | Image Source: Getty

A controversial incident occurred at Indian Wells in 2001 when Venus Williams withdrew from her semifinal match against her sister Serena just before it was scheduled to take place, citing a knee injury. This led to widespread speculation and accusations that Venus had pulled out to avoid facing her sister in the final.

When Serena played in the final against Kim Clijsters, with her father Richard and Venus in the stands supporting her, they were met with a hostile crowd. Many observers believed the hostility was fueled by racial prejudice. The boos during the match were intense, and both sisters later shared how uncomfortable and hurtful the experience was for them.

It was another encounter with racism for Richard, possibly the one that traumatized him the most. He revealed to the media that he overheard a spectator talking about "skinning him alive." Fearing for his safety, he vowed never to return to the tournament again.

"That's the hardest time in the world I've ever had," Williams said. "I'll never go to Indian Wells again, because I believe that guy would skin me alive."

Both sisters boycotted the tournament, with Serena returning in 2015 and Venus following suit a year later in 2016.