by Kelly Campbell
February is Black History Month––a time to honor and celebrate the contributions and achievements of Black individuals throughout history. We aim to uplift and empower black players and business owners in the pickleball community and foster inclusivity and equity year-round.
The pickleball demographic has majorly shifted over the last few years, and younger generations have eliminated pickleball’s “retirement home” reputation. Although age and gender demographics have changed, most pickleball players are white, and Black players remain underrepresented by a large margin. We know that pickleball is a powerful tool for health, connection, and empowerment in all communities, which is why we must ensure that pickleball remains accessible to and represented by everyone.
Read on for more about pickleball in the Black community as we highlight some incredible players and Black-owned groups shaping the future of pickleball.
Historical Exclusion of Black Athletes & Pickleball’s Growing Presence in Black Communities
Although inclusivity and accessibility are some of pickleball’s best characteristics, the sport is still predominantly played by white people. As of 2022, there were over 36 million pickleball players, but only 7.3% identified as Black. So, when pickleball is thriving and exponentially growing, why are we still seeing inconsistent numbers across racial demographics?
One reason could be exclusive pickleball investment and development amongst different socioeconomic communities. Enthusiasm for and investment in public pickleball spaces has been a massive catalyst for pickleball growth throughout the country. Still, we haven’t prioritized pickleball everywhere yet. Although pickleball equipment is mostly cost-effective, developing and building permanent courts is not. While some communities have embraced the pickleball boom and have the capital to meet the demand by developing courts in community centers, parks, and local public spaces, we don’t see the same energy to create these spaces in underserved communities.
We also know that representation matters, especially in sports. Historically, Black athletes have been excluded and have had to overcome obstacles to achieve success. It took immense determination and courage from greats like Serena Williams, Jackie Robinson, Simone Biles, and Willie O’Ree to break barriers, change public perception and pave an equitable path forward for Black athletes. Even today, many more well-established sports suffer from a lack of diversity, especially the NHL. There aren’t many Black professional pickleball players and greater representation could be necessary to promote racial diversity.
Despite a lack of player representation on the professional level, pickleball has been and will continue to be influenced and developed by Black pickleballers––and is one of the first professional sports to do so from novelty.
Pickleball is on a path that combats exclusivity from the ground up. Because of the pickleball popularity boom amongst celebrities and athletes and the economic opportunities that come with its soaring growth, some of the greatest Black athletes and celebrities are heavily invested in the pickleball space. These are just some notable Black athletes and celebrities that publicly play pickleball and/or own or are investors in pickleball teams, clubs, and companies: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Naomi Osaka, Patrick Mahomes, Drake, Michael B. Jordan, Devin Booker, Serena Williams, Draymond Green, and Steph Curry. Pickleball benefits from Black influence in many ways, even if it hasn’t translated to much on-court professional representation yet.
Tyra “Hurricane” Black is one incredibly talented and iconic Black pickleball athlete who’s smashing stereotypes. As one of professional pickleball’s first Black players, she’s dominating on the court, becoming one of pickleball’s most prominent players, and is loving every minute of it.
In a discussion about her journey to pickleball after being a pro tennis player, she told Popsugar, “There have been a lot of African American people that come up to me, and they love to see the representation on the court. Everyone comes out, and they’re super supportive.
Even people not of color have been super supportive of me out there. When I played tennis, it was a completely different story. To come into pickleball and have this super welcoming environment around me has been super amazing.”
More About Hurricane Tyra Black
A 23-year-old native of Boca Raton, FL, Black began her career as a tennis player but found her true passion for pickleball in 2023. She realized that pickleball brought her joy while providing an escape from the unacceptable treatment she experienced as a Black tennis player on international tours.
Since shifting to the pickleball space, Black has smashed the competition, even beating pickleball icon Ann Leigh Waters in an August 2023 match. She is one of the first Black women to reach the top 10 in professional pickleball. She is also the face of numerous sponsorships and ad campaigns, including Advil Targeted Relief, PIKKL, and Halo Hydration campaigns.
Black has a 6.05 DUPR rating. She currently plays for Dallas Flash Pickleball.
“Know that you belong there no matter what the color of your skin is or what people say to you. You belong there. If you put in the work, you can do whatever you want out there. No one should be able to intimidate or put you down.” – “Hurricane” Tyra Black
Support Black-owned Pickleball Businesses, Clubs, & Collectives
Whether you want to get involved with, follow on social media, shop, or donate, please consider supporting these organizations:
Black Pickleball & Co.: 501(c)3 organization with a mission to provide opportunities for cross-class connections inherent in communal sports to improve the financial literacy and economic mobility of minority communities. Black Pickleball & Co. is committed to developing inclusive and supportive environments that empower individuals through education, community engagement, and accessible health & wellness programming.
Pickleballin’ Lifestyle Club: An inclusive pickleball community in Atlanta and Miami curates spaces for fun and sophistication on the pickleball court, which was created to address the need for a welcoming space in pickleball for Black women.
DAB Pickleball: Black-owned pickleball club that hosts inclusive tournaments, develops engaging programs, and offers top-quality equipment for all ages and skill levels. DAB is committed to fostering community, promoting healthy lifestyles, and supporting local charities.
African American Pickleball Association: A Long Island-based pickleball hub that hosts pickleball tournaments and events, offers memberships, intending to introduce pickleball to more African American players and foster inclusivity and diversity within pickleball.
Black Pickleballers United: A group dedicated to promoting health, wellness, and
empowerment within the African American community through pickleball.
WePickle: Black-owned Charleston pickleball company that provides pickleball lessons and after-school programs and “empowers communities through accessible and inclusive pickleball education, fostering fitness, teamwork, and community engagement for a healthier, more connected society.”
The Best Paddle: Jamie Foxx’s pickleball paddle company. Their mission is to empower and foster authentic connections through pickleball.
Black People Who Love to Play Pickleball (FB): A community Facebook group established to increase awareness and participation of African Americans in the fastest-growing sport in the country. The group is open to any players.
Blackout Pickleball: An organization dedicated to increasing Black representation in pickleball.
Do you have another Black-owned pickleball organization to highlight? Contact us so we can add them to this list!
Sources
Recent Comments