Color the Water

look at us. diverse in experience, age, identity, ability, but united in the cause.

We are raising money for Color the Water, an anti-racist liberation seeking organization that offers free surf lessons, media, community, and education to all Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. (BIPOC)

Color the Water was created and is led and run by SOCs (Surfers of Color) that want surfing to be reimagined to its roots - as a communal, spiritual, shared practice invented by ancient melanated people of color as a way to revere nature and exist together in harmony with the ocean and each other. In the modern day, surfing has lost much of that. It is territorial, exclusionary, and predominantly white male-centered as a commodity and an industry, leaving most people of color out. Whether it be through resources, location and access, or cultural barriers like water comfort or otherness in a space, we want to make sure that we have space to enjoy the ocean and fulfill what for so many of us has been a childhood dream.

Our vision is to create a culture where our identities are seen, heard, and respected. We want surfing to be a joyful practice where people can both heal from the traumas and ills they go through on land, and at the same time reimagine wave riding in the modern day in ways that better reflect the deep diversity of Los Angeles where we live, and also the diverse nature of people who are interested in enjoying waves.

Color the Water was started by David Malana in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd by police. A series of paddle outs were held in his honor, and a call to action to do more, and a glaring imbalance of surf skill and community for BIPOC led David to commit his life to fighting racism in defiant joy. With the help of core members Joi Madison, Nathan Fluellen, and Ludine Ashely, Color the Water grew from a hashtag to a community in a matter of a few weeks. Lizelle Jackson joined shortly after and they together co-founded Color the Water as an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Here is a video of a speech made by David with many of these tenets in mind at Ebony Beach Club's second annual Peace Paddle.

Any support would be most welcome! We are committed to keeping our lessons free for all People of Color, and finding ways to have them have the access that they deserve to play in the ocean and experience the deep magic and healing that can come from that when you are safe and seen. Thank you so much and we look forward to continuing to Color the Water!