*Director David Mesfin offers an in-depth look into the rich history of Black surfers in his critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary “Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture.”
The film takes viewers on a powerful exploration of the 1,000-year-old tradition of Black surfing, uncovering its deep historical roots while celebrating the vibrant movement flourishing today. Through compelling storytelling, historical accounts, and modern-day testimonials, “Wade in the Water” sheds light on the often-overlooked legacy of Black surfers and their contributions to the sport.
The documentary has sparked conversations about diversity and the racial barriers of traditional surf culture.
“Wade in the Water is more than a film; it’s a movement,” Mesfin shared previously in a statement.
“Our objective is not just to tell a story but to inspire change. We aim to ignite a passion for surfing within the Black community, challenge preconceived notions about who can be a surfer, and celebrate the rich history and culture of Black surfing,” he added.
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Mesfin told EUR exclusively that the documentary emerged in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the death of George Floyd.
“The tipping point was when my son was 15 years old, came up to me and asked me a specific question. And that was, ‘Why are they killing us?’ And honestly, I couldn’t answer it. I just didn’t have the answers. We’ve all felt this pain building up until that moment. As a creative person, I felt like I needed to tell a story that’s empowering, spiritual, uplifting,” he shared.
”I’ve been a surfer for years. I knew this lovely community in Southern California. I knew the rich history. I used Wade in the Water as a metaphor to talk about these things that we’ve dealt with and we’re dealing with… so that was the impetus of Wade in the Water,” Mesfin explained.
“That led to finding these amazing stories about our connection to the ocean, the thousand-year-old history, the 1640 first account of surfing in Africa. All of that is within Wade in the Water,” he added.
Watch our full conversation with David Mesfin via the clip below.
You can watch “Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture” on Comcast’s Black Experience on Xfinity channel and the Xumo Play free streaming app.
For more information about the film visit www.wadeinthewaterproject.com.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: ‘Wade in the Water’ Documentary Explores History of Black Surfing | Watch Trailer
