For only the sixth time, dozens of black surfers streamed off a Santa Cruz beach Friday to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday with a traditional ocean ceremony called a paddle out.
The event at Cowell Beach celebrated the announcement of slavery’s end while also paying homage to those viewed as oppressed or marginalized.
The ceremony was led by Esabella Bonner, founder of Black Surf Santa Cruz, who started the paddle-out to commemorate the killing of George Floyd, a black man, by a white police officer.
“For a lot of Black people, their relationship with the ocean has to do with slavery, but this helps us reclaim the ocean,” said Chris Mosley, who said he’d been attending the Juneteenth paddle-outs since 2020.
Friday’s event included music, flower adornments and good vibes. The surfers were a mix of veterans and those who’d never ridden on a board.
Meghan Adams volunteered for Black Surf Santa Cruz and helped with flower adornments.
“A lot of people have been saying they’ve never seen this many black people on the beach before,” she said.
Black beachgoers and surfers have traditionally fought discrimination. Some surfers have been told that they shouldn’t surf at certain beaches or been made to feel unwelcome in the waters.
Black Surf Santa Cruz said it works to ensure that all surfers at their events feel safe and comfortable and that everyone is welcome.
