‘There’s no racism out there’, says Harris of the ocean. ‘When you come out of that water, of course you go back to your life. But you lose yourself when you get into the waves.’
A great short documentary on a community of Black surfers in the Rockaways in New York:
This is the first episode of our new video series, “The Freedom To Be.” It focuses on the Black surf community in the Rockaways, with perspectives on the experience from author and former journalist Diane Cardwell, as well as Lou Harris, the CEO of the NYC chapter of the Black Surfing Association.
About “The Freedom To Be”: This series is part of The Black Experience In NYC travel hub on NYCgo.com and highlights New York City’s endless and often unexpected opportunities for Black subcultures and affinity groups—acknowledging the five boroughs’ vibrant abundance of ideas and expressions. A celebration of the diversity within Black culture in NYC, The Freedom To Be also underscores the contributions of these communities and groups to NYC’s dynamism.
Black people in water sports related: Black diversity in swimming: improvements needed