There’s probably little coincidence that just three weeks being a first-time mom, Serena Williams felt a massive thanks was in order to her own mother Oracene Price.
Shortly after giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia on September 1, the tennis great wrote a letter in which she expresses the utmost gratitude towards Mama Price. On Tuesday, Williams posted the heartfelt note to her Reddit (a website for aggregated news content and social forums founded by Williams’ own fiancee Alexis Ohanian) account and previewed it on her Instagram accompanied by a photo of herself and her cherub of a newborn.
“Dear Mom, you are one of the strongest women I know,” the letter begins. “I was looking at my daughter (OMG, yes, I have a daughter 😳) and she has my arms and legs! My exact same strong, muscular, powerful, sensational arms and body. I don’t know how I would react if she has to go through what I’ve gone through since I was a 15 year old and even to this day.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZO4H4BhMb8/
The accomplished 35-year-old then goes on to discuss the barrage of insults she’s endured due to her athletic physique.
“But mom, I’m not sure how you did not go off on every single reporter, person, announcer and quite frankly, hater, who was too ignorant to understand the power of a black woman,” she continued. “I am proud we were able to show them 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,” Williams wrote. “Thank you for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships that I now regard as 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,” Williams concludes. “I’m not sure if I am as meek and strong as you are yet. I hope to get there one day. I love you dearly.”
Ain’t. That. The. Friggin. Cutest.
