Trojan Salma Ewing’s journey into the painful history of her mother’s homeland
The USC tennis standout takes center stage in South Africa on a set of courts her mother was barred from as a child
As the country recognizes Black History Month in February, USC Athletics is celebrating and documenting its proud African-American heritage with stories about iconic Trojans who serve as role models for the university and the African-American community.
In this chapter, Salma Ewing — a freshman on the USC women’s tennis team — travels with her mom to a tournament in South Africa. It’s an emotional journey for both women, and not just because of tough competition: Ewing’s mother, Reyana Abrahams, grew up in the country under apartheid. Now she watches as her daughter competes on a set of courts she was prohibited from playing on as a little girl.
Read the full story on USC Athletics’ Black History Month website.