colorthewater

Sending love and truth speaking power to a panel of our surfers speaking today in a room full of white people about what genuine allyship looks like to us. For many of us this is the first chance we’ve ever had in life to speak freely with support. #colorthewater

"...i was thinking about this morning and I've only been going to Topanga for a year or two but this morning was the first time I saw a bench full of BIPOC people. It took me like a second to register but.. pretty cool. I really appreciate that." - CTW Surfer, AAPI woman

Our social media engagement follows a peculiar trend. We put out happy photos of our surfers having fun and we build to about 800-900 likes, and then we mention something to do with racism, either experienced or systemic or both, and it drops to about 200-300. #colorthewater

Two white allies who donated boards to us are now going to help some of our BIPOC surfers in San Diego learn to surf. We’re spreading!

The other day someone we have never met tagged us on IG and said that we’ve inspired her to surf. It’s working! #colorthewater

A white woman told one of our beginning surfers, who unintentionally rode the tail end of one of soooo many waves white woman had ridden in the beginner area of Topanga “You’re not gonna like it when you get hurt.”

I was surfing with Mateo today and a white (possibly white passing) woman came up to us and said “y’all are looking too tropical to be California surfers. Where have you been? I need to work on my tan too.” #surfingwhilebrown #colorthewater

The other day, Edmund was waiting for me to come out of my place and surf. He knew where he was and what we was doing... just waiting. A random woman drives up to him, stops, and asks “excuse me, can I help you? Are you lost?” #surfingwhileBlack #colorthewater