Former World No. 1 Venus Williams has teamed up with fine artist Adam Pendleton to co-curate an auction to raise money for the restoration of American singer-songwriter Nina Simone’s childhood home in Tryon, North Carolina. In a recent interview with Paper magazine, Williams discussed the importance of preserving the history of underrepresented communities and her personal connection with Simone’s legacy.
Importance of preserving history and Nina Simone’s impact
In the interview, Williams stated that there would be no “Venus Williams” without trailblazers like Nina Simone. The seven-time Major winner acknowledged the late singer’s role in breaking barriers and opening doors for people of color. She also praised Simone’s courage to stand up for the truth even at the cost of personal sacrifices. “There would be no me without women like Nina,” Williams said, “She broke so many barriers; she opened so many doors and sacrificed so much. There were so many other artists at that time who weren’t willing to make those sacrifices.”
Preserving Nina Simone’s legacy through restoration
In discussing the restoration project, Williams said that Simone deserved a site that represented her spirit, and expressed her excitement at being part of the effort. “Also, she deserves a site with those same qualities,” Venus Williams said. “There isn’t enough preservation of the legacies of people with brown skin, so this is very exciting to be a part of.” She went on to say, “It’s such an honor to be a part of this because I truly love art. It makes me so happy to be able to preserve Nina’s legacy.”
Significance of history and growing up with Nina Simone’s influence
Williams emphasized the significance of understanding one’s history and expressed gratitude to her parents for instilling a keen interest in both personal and cultural histories. “History is so important to me,” Venus Williams said, “My mom and dad were so adamant that you must know your history so that you know yourself. Because of that I knew about Nina Simone and her legacy growing up.” Williams went on to describe the restoration project as an important tribute to Simone, whose brilliance transcended time and culture.
