We are excited to present a timely special event in our Between the Lines webinar series July 14, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. Between the Lines is our exclusive series, available only to Charleston to Charleston donors and friends, in which we pair exciting speakers with remarkable interviewers. The results, so far, have been spectacular.

Tennis great Stan Smith is winner of seven major singles championships including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and 11 major doubles championships. Mark Mathabane was a young man living in Johannesburg, South Africa during the height of Apartheid. A chance encounter between the two would change their lives forever, sparking a friendship that would span years and damaging social structures. In their conversation they will explore their shared experiences in tennis and the larger world.

Mathabane has written about his escape from poverty and segregation in his bestselling autobiography, Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth’s Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa. Today Mathabane lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, and has three children, all of whom have graduated from Princeton. His new book, The Lessons of Ubuntu: How an African Philosophy Can Inspire Racial Healing in America, discusses the ten principles of Ubuntu, an African philosophy based on the concept of our shared humanity.

This session will offer a unique opportunity to hear from an all-time tennis great and from an extraordinary man who rose from poverty to prominence. Their shared journey is an exploration of the bonds formed between people even in the most divisive situations.

We will involve area high school and college students in this event, whether during the livestream or via distribution of the session recording. This special combination of sports and human connection will be inspirational to all.

This event is free but registration is required. Donations are always appreciated. Thank you for your support of this exciting event.