Sharon Schaffer // First Black Woman Pro Surfer

Sharon Schaffer was born and raised in Los Angeles, California with strong family roots to Louisiana. She now resides at the beach in Playa Del Rey, California, enjoying her reign at her local surf break, GillisJetty. You may recognize Schaffer from her gang banging “Crip Girl” shenanigans in COLORS or the ill fated detective in ANOTHER STAKEOUT or the damsel in distress “Token Clerk” in MONEY TRAIN. Schaffer’s 40 year career in entertainment includes acting, producing, professional surfing, writing, teaching, stunt work being a pioneer of Black stunts, and singing as well as various volunteer works with WOUNDED WARRIORS, STOKED.ORG and JIMMY MILLER FOUNDATION, bringing healing through Ocean Therapy, animal rescue and political activism. She has been both the host of an extreme sport variety show and a music video show. She has toured with the L.A. PHILHARMONIC Music Center On Tour Children’s Program portraying Harriet Tubman and been featured in films SPIDERMAN II, STAR TREK, CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR and FREEDOM WRITERS & TV hits ENTOURAGE, SCRUBS, FALL GUY and LOST. While on a family competitive swimming trip to Hawaii for the Junior Olympics, Schaffer caught her first wave at the age of 11 on a longboard! She went on to become the first Black female surfer to compete on the professional ASP/WQS tour and was featured in the “How We Roll” exhibit at the CALIFORNIAN AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM in 2011, highlighting cultural influences in surfing, skateboarding & rollerskating. Schaffer, along with her stunt peer group was honored at the 2012 NAACP Image Awards with the President’s Award. Additionally Schaffer’s been honored by the CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE ASSEMBLY, CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS THE BLACK HOLLYWOOD EDUCATION AND RESOURCE CENTER (BHERC) for her efforts and significant lasting contributions towards greater diversity and gender equality in the motion picture and television industry. Schaffer’s work and efforts led to a peer group induction into the new SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE (NMAAHC) opening in 2016. Schaffer currently stays stoked and busy as a pro free surfer & snowboarder, actor, singer, T’ai chí chúan practitioner and prolific spiritual & social commentary poet~writer, just finishing her first children’s book.

The "Wade in the Water" limited-edition portrait series showcases activists, pioneers, and future leaders in SoCal’s BIPOC surf community adorned with the leaves of Afrocarpus gracilior, aka the African Fern Pine.

Museum-quality fine art digital print

Frame recommendation:
CLASSIC LIGHT MAPLE WOOD PICTURE FRAME