Wade in the water

SBIFF 2023: A documentary that reclaims the 1,000-year-old tradition of Black surfing and aquatic culture-inspiring the next generation of Black surfers.
Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture (2023)
reclaims the 1,000-year-old tradition of Black surfing. Braiding historical accounts with modern-day testimonials, the film dismantles the racial barriers of conventional surf culture, delves into the overlooked history of Black surfing's legacy, and honors its current movement-inspiring the next generation of Black surfers.
David Mesfin - Director, Writer, and Producer
Beyin Abraha - Executive Director
Teferi Seifu - Editor
Kira Gilmore - Producer
Micheal Warner - Producer
Xahil McDonald - PR Coordinator
Alison Rose Jefferson, M.H.C. | Ph.D
Dr. Professor Kevin Dawson Ph.D
Selema Masekela
Black Surfing Association
Established in 1975 by Tony Corley. He began organizing informal fundraisers for junior swimming and lifeguard programs after learning that Black children were statistically much more likely to drown than white children in the United States. He went on to submit a letter to the editor of SURFER in hopes of finding fellow Black surfers who would be interested in connecting and surfing with him. SURFER published that letter in January 1974, which prompted a slew of responses. The organization continues to empower Black youth in Southern California and Rockaway, New York in partnership with Lou Harris.
Black Surfers Collective
Established in 2011, the BSC promotes diversity and cultural awareness in the sport of surfing through community-based activities, outreach, and camaraderie.Our goal is to sponsor family-oriented activities that get folks down to the beach to share the love of the ocean. These seaside events are used to generate public interest in the sport, the history of surfing, beach culture, and ocean stewardship.
Sofly Surf School
Sofly Surf School was founded by Sahfilli Matturi. Sahfilli grew up in Long Beach, has over 15 years of experience surfing and started a surf school based in Sunset Beach (OC) in 2021 with some of his friends to pass on the stoke. Sofly Surf School provides free classes for all ages and experience levels on every second Saturday of the month. Their goal is to foster community through the fun, healing, and uniting force of the ocean.
Color the Water
A community for BIPOC to reclaim space in the ocean, Color The Water began as a way to fight racism with joy after the murder of George Floyd. We started to offer free surf lessons and media for BIPOC in the LA area. Now we are a diverse, inclusive, anti-racist safe space for hundreds of BIPOC surfers.
Black Surf Club Santa Cruz
Black Surf Club Santa Cruz aims to tear down barriers that oftentimes keep our oceans segregated. By taking a strategic focus on both physical and spiritual wellness, Black Surf Club Santa Cruz aims to create a community of healing for our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Community here in Santa Cruz. Black Surf Club empowers the Black community to reclaim their space in the ocean through surfing, spiritual wellness, water safety, and community.
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