NFL
By: Zachary Draves
He is to tennis what Lil Nas X is to music, unapologetically black and gay.
Based out of Kalamazoo Michigan, Lendale Johnson is the epitome of a renaissance man equivalent to that of Paul Robeson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
A tennis pro, star of the show “Deuces and Love” on Amazon Prime, actor, model, and the Director of the Johnson High-Performance Tennis Academy based in New York.
He also holds the distinguished title of being the first openly gay player on the professional tennis circuit since 1968, a title that carries a significant weight that Lendale recognizes.
(Courtesy: Twitter)
“It is an honor and exciting and I am inspiring others” he said.
“Since I have come out it has given me the motivation to do more because it is going to make a huge difference.”
He has received praise for his visibility from many including none other than Billie Jean King.
(Courtesy: TV Shows Ace)
When it comes to the stature he has now developed, he wonders about media portrayal.
“The question I ask is how the media is going to cover me when I defeat a popular player. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
As he continues to grow as a professional, he is seeking higher feats while committing to stay at the top of his game.
“I really want to be a competitor and want to go above and beyond” said Lendale.
“I’d like to play and win Wimbledon. I want to start to establish myself on the ITF level and then after that, I can work my way up. It is all about the experience. I got to keep the intensity up.”
Over the course of COVID-19, Lendale has been in a state of back and forth between the cancellation of tournaments along with a few opportunities to showcase his talents.
In the meantime, he has also invested much of his efforts to his tennis academy that creates opportunities for new life to step onto the court.
“The tennis academy has been booming” said Lendale.
“Tennis has been the safest sport to play according to the CDC and it is cool seeing the game grow.”
As athlete activism continues to gain traction, Lendale stands firm in his quest to intersectional justice and has a personal stake in that matter for more than one reason.
In 2018, he was the victim of racial profiling by the NYPD and the trauma of it still lingers.
“Four police officers surrounded me and it freaked me out and gave me anxiety” he said.
Lendale found comfort in the presence of fellow tennis player James Blake, who made headlines in 2014 for his own ordeal with racial profiling at the hands of the NYPD.
They exchanged emails and continue to maintain a close bond.
(Courtesy: Instinct Magazine)
His visibility comes at this unique time in history where this nation is reckoning with the legacy of racism in addition to its intersection with LGBTQ+ equality.
Lendale’s presence matters the same as Lil Nas X, Billy Porter, Congressman Ritchie Torres, Congressman Mondaire Jones, Alphonso David, RuPaul, and Pennsylvania State Senator Malcolm Kenyatta.
Whether it is tennis, entertainment, or mentoring the next generation, Lendale Johnson will be chattering his journey on his own terms.
The essence of the intersectional sports icon.
