Black Tennis Connect
About Black Tennis Connect
At the turn of the 20th century, people of color were not permitted to join organizations formed by and for white people. This included the United States Lawn Tennis Association in 1916. It was through segregation the American Tennis Association was formed and became the nation’s first professional sports league for African Americans.
In 1922, a group of Durham tennis enthusiasts organized a club to provide a place to play the game and socialize. After 12 years of meeting in private homes, the Algonquin Tennis Club House was purchased in 1934. They aimed to provide African American tennis players with a safe place to gather and play. It was this history that inspired Kenyata Thomas to create the Charlotte Black Tennis Connect.