King Richard: An Interview with Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton

King Richard: An Interview with Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton

King Richard is a film honoring the legacy of Richard Williams, father of Tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams which is in theaters everywhere and on HBO Max this Friday, November 19.

The film tells the story of Richard and the Williams family’s remarkable journey from the rough environment of Compton, CA to the fame and fortune of professional tennis stardom. King Richard is the Williams family’s tremendous story of faith, perseverance, and triumph that is truly inspiring. The cast was phenomenal and I left the theater wanting to put into action the value for planning, humility, and passion that the family exemplified.

UrbanFaith sat down with Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton who play Venus and Serena to discuss the experience of bringing the lives of these legends to the big screen alongside Will Smith.

The full interview is above!

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

 

 

UrbanFaith’s 2011 Hit List

UrbanFaith’s 2011 Hit List

TOP READS: Stories about Father's Day cards for black moms, the mysterious death of Zachery Tims, and the downfall of Moammar Gadhafi all found their way into the most-read list of 2011.

Readers don’t always leave comments, but they do quietly let us know which posts capture their attention. For sheer volume of readers, these were the most popular UrbanFaith articles of 2011.

10.

All My Single Ladies: Before you give your heart away, check out these priceless pearls of wisdom for women who want to put God in charge of their love life.

09.

Is Gadhafi a Martyr? Some wonder whether the late Libyan ruler was unjustly overthrown — and whether the United States is complicit in the offense.

08.

Detroit’s Future: From Blight to Bright: How a grassroots movement of young entrepreneurs and faith-based leaders are kick starting the Motor City’s urban renewal.

07.

Venus William’s Toughest Match: Her withdrawal from the U.S. Open because of Sjogren’s syndrome brings attention to the plight of autoimmune disease sufferers.

06.

Steve Jobs’ Passion for Diversity: “Can you help us hire black engineers?” That unexpected question marked the beginning of Andrew B. Williams’ unique friendship with Apple’s late co-founder. His life, his students’ lives, and the life of Apple Inc. would never be the same again.

05.

Is That Hair Killing You? According to the U.S. Surgeon General, some women are jeopardizing their health in order to protect their hairstyles — and black women are at the top of the list.

04.

Man of God, But Still a Man: The tragic death of Pastor Zachery Tims reminds us that even our most gifted and passionate Christian leaders are imperfect human beings.

03.

Rick Perry and the “Rainbow Right”: Could a coalition of “Rainbow Right” supporters be key to victory for presidential hopeful Rick Perry?

02.

Zachery Tims Found Dead: A popular Florida pastor’s mysterious death in a Times Square hotel leaves unanswered questions, and friends and followers in shock.

01.

Single Moms Are Not Fathers: Contrary to a new cultural campaign by Hallmark and others, Father’s Day is not a holiday for black single moms.

What do you think?

Were these 10 the most compelling posts of the year or did something else we published capture your attention?

Venus Williams’ Toughest Match

Venus Williams’ Toughest Match

OFF THE COURT CHALLENGE: Tennis champ Venus Williams recently revealed that she's battling Sjogren's syndrome. Photo by Brett Weinstein/Wikipedia.

Shocking Revelation

“Tennis star Venus Williams has withdrawn from the U.S. Open shortly before her second-round match, announcing that she has been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that can lead to dry eyes, dry mouth and painful joint problems,” The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday.

“I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon,” said Williams, whose phenomenal career has included seven WTA Grand Slam titles and two Olympic Gold medals.

Winning Grand Slams Isn’t Everything

Off the court, Williams not only launched her own clothing line, but she has been a member of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Player Council and is a founding ambassador for the WTA-UNESCO Gender Equality Program, which addresses worldwide gender issues.

Williams was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness by her mother Oracene Williams and has indicated in interviews that she is one too. In a 2002 interview with The Observer, for example, Williams talked about her faith and said, “I know it’s not the most important thing for me to win the most Grand Slams and be remembered in this world. I certainly don’t have to win little tournaments here, there and everywhere, I don’t have to win at all.”

If the diagnosis forces Williams to retire from tennis, perhaps her drive and fame will lead her to become a spokesperson for the victims and families of autoimmune diseases, which affect women at a disproportionate rate.

What is Sjogren’s Syndrome?

The hallmark symptoms of Sojgren’s syndrome are dry eyes and dry mouth, but it can also cause organ dysfunction, extreme fatigue, and joint pain, according to the Sojgren’s Syndrome Foundation (SSF). The organization says more than four million Americans suffer from the disorder, and nine out of 10 of them are women. About half also suffer from another autoimmune connective tissue disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma.

Hope for Autoimmune Disease Sufferers

Insisde Edition anchor Deborah Norville is host of an internet talk show about rheumatoid arthritis called New Way RA. Norville’s mother was diagnosed with the disease when Norville was 10 years old and died from complications when Norville was 20.

In a 2009  interview with LifeScript, Norville said her mother’s diagnosis turned her world “upside down, put it in a jar, shook it up and spewed it all over the pavement.”

Her parents divorced and she and her sisters managed the household because their mother was bedridden. Norville said however, “There are blessings that come from everything. You could probably make an argument that my mom’s illness was a factor in all four of us [sisters] becoming incredibly capable, successful women. I think my mom is probably aware that we achieved some of that because of her illness.”

Norville, a Christian, is author of Thank You Power: Making the Science of Gratitude Work for You and said in the interview that gratitude resurrects the emotional memory of feeling good. “That’s a really good thing when you’re down in the dumps and are thinking, ‘I’ve got this crappy illness and these pills aren’t working.’ If you can find things in your life that make you feel grateful, you are going to feel better.”

Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week

Rest Ministries, a Joni & Friends affiliate, helps people suffering from all kinds of chronic illness turn their “illness detour” into a “pilgrimage of hope.” The ministry was founded in 1996 by rheumatoid arthritis sufferer Lisa Copen. Its website offers daily devotionals, a small group program, and online community. It is also sponsoring Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week September 12-18. The theme is Deep Breath, Start Fresh. For more information, check out Copen’s special message, as well as the video below.