If you are a fan of the NBA, you have probably heard of Sonya Curry. Either you know her as the incredible woman who shot herself to the fore over a half-court shot, or even better as the mother of NBA superstar Stephen Curry, point guard for the Golden State Warriors.
Amidst the wealth and fame that have defined her life, Sonya grew up in a time in America where racism was openly spoken out. Although things have improved since then, her experiences have proved useful in helping her children cope with the more subtle acts of racism that still exist today.
Here’s a look at the life of Sonya Curry, the matriarch of one of the most famous families in NBA history, and how her background has made her one of America’s most popular people.
How Old Is Sonya Curry and Where Was She Raised?
Although she now has more active ties to North Carolina and California, Sonya Curry is a born and bred Virginian. The mother of the two NBA players was born on May 30, 1966, in Radford, Virginia. Her parents are Cleive and Candy Adams, who had two other children named India and Cleive. She is of mixed African-American, Creole, Haitian, and Caucasian descent. Her Caucasian genes can be recognized by her blue-colored eyes and dark blond hair.
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Sonya grew up in great poverty. She grew up in a trailer together with her parents and siblings. This made her see sport as a way out of a difficult environment. While attending Radford High School, the young girl played various sports, including basketball and volleyball. Her achievements in the latter sport earned her a scholarship to Virginia Tech, where she earned a degree in education.
Her Experiences With Overt Racism
Sonya Curry’s athletic abilities and her Caucasian genes were not enough to keep her from the depths of the racism that emerged in Radford, Virginia. She grew up in a trailer and was repeatedly harassed by members of the Ku Klux Klan of White Supremacists.
Although racial segregation ended during her time in high school, Sonya was regularly referred to as the N-word, and her brother suffered several physical attacks by white students. Other members of her family also suffered from the endless racist attacks that dominated her life in Redford, Virginia.
Like many African Americans today who see sport as a way out, Sonya’s athletic prowess eventually proved to be the shield that protected her from the worst racism in Virginia. Her outstanding performance on the volleyball court helped her secure a spot at Virginia Tech, where she not only graduated but also met her husband, future NBA star Dell Curry.
Her Experiences With Overt Racism
Parents often draw on their own personal experiences when they want to raise their children. Sonya Curry’s story is no different than the story of raising her three children Steph, Seth, and Sydel.
While their children were born and raised in an environment very different from their own, Sonya has made it her duty to educate them about the privilege of their existence. She told them her story and helped them realize the reality of those who are not fortunate enough to grow up in the sheltered environment offered by their father’s successful NBA career.
This decision proved valuable to the Curry kids, especially Stephen. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player has been particularly opposed to personalities who perpetuate racism. A notable time in which he did so was in 2017, when, as you know, he refused to visit the White House after his team won the 2017 NBA Championship. He did so to take a stand against President Trump’s antics, which he believed were fuelling the racial divide in the country.
He and his wife Ayesha also have a foundation called the Stephen and Ayesha Curry Family Foundation. This non-profit foundation is known for several philanthropic efforts aimed at helping people of color to overcome the burdens of systemic racism.
As for Sonya, who grew up in an educational system that discriminated against her and others like her, she has established a school for children of all colors and races. In 1995 she founded the Lake Norman Christian Montessori School in Huntersville, North Carolina, which her children attended.
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Members of Sonya Curry’s Family
Among basketball fans, the Curry family is considered the first family in the NBA. After their marriage to Dell Curry in 1988, the couple welcomed three children, who all play sports like their parents.
Their first child, Stephen Curry, was welcomed into the world in March 1988. Today, Steph is an NBA superstar and married to Ayesha Curry, and the couple has made Sonya a three-headed grandmother. Their children are daughters Riley and Ryan, born in 2012 and 2015 respectively, and son Cannon, born in 2018.
Sonya’s second child is son Seth Curry, who also plays in the NBA. The young man, born in August 1990, is married to Callie Rivers, a member of another famous basketball family – that of NBA coach Doc Rivers.
Sonya Curry’s youngest child is her daughter Sydel Curry, who was born in October 1994. Like her brothers, Sydel is married. The college volleyball player is married to NBA player Damion Lee, who plays on the same team as her big brother Steph.
