Arvelia Myers was an American tennis player, wife, mother, coach, entrepreneur, and activist. After excelling in the sport, she founded , the first female-owned, African-American tennis program, in Harlem which served youth for over forty years. She was known in her community as the "mother of Harlem tennis" and was often referred to as a pioneer and activist because of the measures she took to protect her program.
Early life
Born 25 February 1927 in Sunflower, Mississippi to Alexander Cage, a preacher, and Irene. In 1944, a single Arvelia with her two-year-old daughter left for the Bronx, where an aunt found living arrangements for them. Despite family members' objections, Arvelia relocated to Harlem and never left. She chose Mount Morris Presbyterian as her church home, where she served as an usher. There she found babysitting support and more. Arvelia told a tennis historian, "A young man whom I met at the Mt. Morris Church introduced me to tennis." That man, Raymond Mitchell, became her second husband in 1956, and, for four years, the family was often seen on community tennis courts perfecting their game. In 1972, at 45 years old, Arvelia attained a General Equivalency Diploma, and twelve years later, In 1984, at 57-years-old, she graduated Columbia University School of General Studies with a B.A. degree in English.
Tennis career
During Arvelia's tennis playing days, Jim Crow laws prohibited blacks from competing in the United States Tennis Lawn Association tournaments, so they played on the circuit, "the only game in town," according to Arthur Ashe. Arvelia traveled on weekends to ATA tournaments on black college campuses such as Hampton University in Virginia, Central State University in Ohio, or the Shady Rest Country Club in New Jersey. On the ATA circuit in the 1960s, Myers was ranked as high as number three as a singles player and won doubles championship honors.
Entrepreneurship
After having worked with Claude Cargill's and Bill Brown's at the Harlem Armory, in 1973, Arvelia founded Pyramid Tennis, the first black female-owned tennis and education program in Harlem. Through this program, she provided tennis instruction, tennis balls, rackets, court time, and entry fees for tournaments. Each item exacted cost, an impediment. Her program eliminated that obstacle improving access to what was for many, a financially prohibitive sport. Pyramid conducted an outdoor junior tennis program during the summers at Fred Johnson's Park in Manhattan and indoors at the 369th Armory in Harlem during the winters. Through her program, participants learned the game and the discipline required for success on the court, the classroom, and life. Besides the above, she partnered with City College and Columbia University as coach of their respective tennis teams and with Riverbank State Park as a youth tennis instructor. The United States Tennis Association Eastern New York Division acknowledged Myers as a "gamechanger" who promoted tennis throughout the region.
Activism
The HJTEP converted the drill floor of the 369 Regiment Armory into eight tennis courts serving a wide range of sports enthusiasts. Myers regularly reserved four of those courts to conduct her Pyramid program. In 1985 when the homeless population rose in New York City, and officials decided the drill floor at the armory was the solution, Arvelia's program was in jeopardy. She appealed to the governor and city officials to devise an alternate solution, but that did not occur until David Dinkins was elected mayor. She was forced into activist mode again when the leadership at the armory decided they could increase their revenue by renting the armory to a concessionaire who could generate more funds, again jeopardizing Pyramid Tennis and other tennis programs at the site. Myers organized a coalition named the Friends of Harlem Tennis, educated the community, and pressured politicians and other stakeholders to award the contract to organizations more tennis friendly. The American Tennis Association often of Tennis because no other tennis community welcomed them. Many tennis players thrived in this environment and then "crossed over" when officials established outlawed laws banning them. Althea Gibson, Arthur Ashe, and Bob Ryland are among the notable few who honed their game on the ATA circuit. Arvelia Myers was another player who competed under the banner of the ATA and elevated her game as a ranked competitor. She maintained her connection to the group and served as a member of the Board of Directors after her competitive days ended. She grew to become protective of the organization and strove to ensure the ATA maintained its vision, value, and commitment to developing junior tennis players. Although Myers was a stalwart of the ATA, she was also a staunch supporter of the United States Tennis Association. She received numerous awards for her voluntary service at the US Open and as secretary of the USTA Eastern Division. However, she always maintained that they were distinct brands. "It's like Avis and Hertz. You should never put the two together," she often said.
Death
On October 25, 2017, Arvelia Myers died while in Jacobs Nursing Home in The Bronx, New York.
Awards and acknowledgements
Myers was listed in Columbia University's 'Unsung Heroes' in their Legacy of Leadership bulletin because she made "a difference in New York City, going about important work each day with little publicity". Some did notice her work, however, as her numerous awards for dedication and service prove: Harlem Junior Tennis Program Appreciation Award, USTA Community Service Award, Arthur Ashe Special Service Award, ATA Outstanding Service Award, No Ad Pioneer Award, Harlem Week/Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce-Community Service Award, the USTA 10-year Volunteer Service Award, the ETA Louise Cilla Award, the Arvelia Myers service award, and others. She was inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame posthumously on June 22, 2019.
