The answer to the crossword is 'ASHE', which is the surname of Arthur Ashe, an American professional tennis player who won three Grand Slam titles. He was also a civil rights activist and author of the book 'Hard Road to Glory: A History of the African-American Athlete'. The book was published in 1988 and it chronicles the history of African-American athletes from the late 19th century to the mid-1980s.