Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It was called the match of the century. On 20 September 1973, Billie Jean King faced 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, tennis pro-turned-chauvinist loudmouth, in front of 30,000 fans at the Houston Astrodome.
The purse was worth $100,000 to the winner, but much more was at stake. Riggs wanted to "protect mankind from pushy women". King wanted to prove herself the equal of a man and secure a level playing-field for women in status and payment ("I wasn't just playing for myself. I was playing for everybody").
The hoopla surrounding the match is splendidly caught. James Erskine and Zara Hayes's terrific documentary sets the event against the story of the women's movement that caught fire at the end of the 1960s, when a wife still couldn't get a credit card in her own name. The archive footage is more than an incidental treat – it's an eye-opener.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments