HBCU Day at the US Open: Why Accountability and Inclusion Aren't Opposites

I played tennis at Spelman. I'm a professional content creator, and I've personally experienced the US Open, including some of the suites and experiences that come with it. Because of that, I've been thinking a lot about what happened at HBCU Day, and I wanted to share where I land on it.

Black people have a rich history in tennis, while also historically being excluded from certain tennis spaces. And there are people today who simply aren't familiar with tennis or its culture. I think that matters, because it creates an opportunity to educate people instead of assuming everyone enters these spaces with the same knowledge.

At the same time, I want to be clear: if you're entering a tennis environment, you should respect the sport, the players, and the culture of the event. The behavior we saw wasn't okay, and understanding where it might come from doesn't mean excusing it.

We can hold adults accountable for how they behave AND ask brands to be more intentional about these opportunities. If you're inviting creators who may be unfamiliar with tennis, educate them. Set expectations. Let them know what is and isn't appropriate in that environment.

I know that kind of exposure works, because it worked on me. For a long time, I thought the US Open was this exclusive, invite-only event. Then I started seeing people online going, showing their outfits, experiencing the grounds, making a whole day of it. It made me realize: wait, this is something I can actually experience for myself. And eventually, I did.

Yes, I enjoy the fashion and the experience around the US Open, but I'm also there because I love tennis. I want to watch the matches, support our players, and respect the game. It's actually part of why I created my own tennis-inspired art collection, as a way to celebrate that love and the legacy Black players have built in this sport.

As a Black person, I also know what it feels like when the actions of a few people start shaping how people view an entire group, and in turn, how they may view me. That's why I think we have to be careful about how we frame this conversation. Disruptive behavior should be addressed as disruptive behavior, not Black behavior.

Tennis has a very real history of exclusion, so we should be especially careful not to create a new justification for exclusion. Inclusion doesn't mean ignoring the culture of the sport. It means better preparation, better management, respect for tennis culture, and accountability without stereotyping an entire community.

This conversation got a mix of reactions when I first shared it, some pushback, some real agreement. I think that's okay. We don't have to see everything the same way to learn from each other.