Surfing, despite its roots in indigenous Pacific Islander history, has been seen as a sport for straight white men for far too long.
America’s history of systemic racism plays a major role in discouraging people of color from taking up water sports, according to Chelsea Woody, co-founder of Textured Waves, a surf collective for women of color.
Danielle Black Lyons, another Textured Waves co-founder, and Woody, both understand that not seeing people who look like you in the water can be discouraging, but they are also persistent in encouraging people of color to paddle out.
Let’s reverse the races: “Seeing so many black people in one place can be discouraging”