New Documentary Spotlights the Little-Known History of Black Surfers

Today, in celebration of Juneteenth, David Misfin’s award-winning documentary Wade in the Water: A Journey Into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture begins streaming on Amazon, Vimeo+, and PBS Hawaii. The film has already completed successful runs at over a dozen film festivals, including the Santa Barbara and Boulder International Film Festivals, as well as Hawaii’s Surf Film Festival.

“Braiding historical accounts, footage, modern-day testimonials, live-action shots, and interviews, the film delves into the overlooked history of Black surfing's legacy,” according to the official press release. "Piloted by historical experts and community leaders in the BIPOC surfing movement, Wade in the Water reclaims the 1,000-year-old Black surfing tradition.”

Misfin’s riveting doc begins with the first written account of surfing in 1640 and rides swiftly into the 1900s, illustrating the lives, legacies, and struggles “of Santa Monica’s pioneering African American surfers; thoroughly recounting their clashes against Jim Crow laws that legalized and enforced racial segregation.”

Wade in the Water introduces audiences to little-before-known Black surfing legends, icons, and community leaders, many of whom work tirelessly at spearheading programs which are establishing equitable access to surfing in BIPOC communities.

"The legacy of Black surfers is less publicized and celebrated than other surfing subcultures is that it has been consciously protected and not overly marketed," Mesfin told Men's Journal. "There is a deep respect within the Black surfing community for preserving the authenticity and integrity of their culture. This approach has helped maintain the essence and significance of Black surfing without diluting it through mainstream commercialization."

Mesfin was inspired by "a profound sense of responsibility to honor and amplify the rich oral and written history that already existed."

Mesfin continued: "My inspiration was further fueled by the intense emotions that arose in the wake of George Floyd's murder. The collective trauma and anguish experienced by many compelled me to channel this energy into a meaningful endeavor that celebrated healing, resilience, and community."

The director hopes his film will "inspire the next generation of Black surfers by connecting them to their rich heritage and encouraging them to build on the legacy passed down by their ancestors...Wade in the Water aims to inspire young Black surfers to embrace their roots, create their own paths, and contribute to a diverse and evolving surfing community."

Mesfin concluded: "Wade in the Water is very much an activism in the form of documentary. The medium is the message."

Wade in the Water: A Journey Into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture is currently streaming on Amazon, Vimeo+, and PBS Hawaii. It will debut on Comcast’s Black Experience, on the Xfinity platform, and on Xumo Play on August 1. The soundtrack is currently available on Spotify.