Arthur Ashe used his athletic platform to actively fight South African apartheid, resulting in the country's exclusion from the Davis Cup in 1970.

Ashe was far more than an athlete; he was a fierce champion for human rights. After South African authorities repeatedly denied him a visa to play in their national open due to apartheid, Ashe lobbied the international tennis community. His efforts bore fruit on March 23, 1970, when South Africa was officially banned from the Davis Cup. He later co-founded Artists and Athletes Against Apartheid to keep the pressure on.