WADE IN THE WATER: Documentary

Piloted by historical experts and community leaders in the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) surfing movement, Wade in the Water (2023) reclaims the 1,000 year-old Black surfing tradition—inspiring the next generation of Black surfers. Weaving historical accounts, footage, modern-day testimonials, live-action shots, and interviews, the film delves into the overlooked history of Black surfing's legacy. 

Guided by compelling voiceover narration, the journey begins with Prof. Kevin Dawson from UC Merced as he chronicles the evolution of aquatic African culture, from the first written account of surfing in the 1640s to its place in the context of 1800s America.

Flowing into the 1900s, historian and heritage conservationist Alison Rose Jefferson, M.H.C. | Ph.D., honors the lives, legacies, and struggles of Santa Monica’s pioneering African American surfers; thoroughly recounting their clashes against Jim Crow laws that legalized and enforced racial segregation. 

What follows are extensive introductions to and insights from contemporary Black surfing legends, icons, and community leaders, as they discuss the generations responsible for cultivating Black surfing’s traditions in California, its spiritual principles, and liberating impact. 

Many of these individuals are currently spearheading programs that are establishing equitable access to surfing in California’s BIPOC communities with surf clubs and public policies that not only promoting greater access to surfing for diverse communities, but promote environmental stewardship and protection as well.

DAVID MESFIN - DIRECTOR

David Mesfin is an award-winning Creative Director and Multidisciplinary Designer. Born in Ethiopia, Mesfin was born in Ethiopia and moved to the United States at a young age. Growing up in St. Augustine, Florida, he was surrounded by a vibrant surf culture that inspired his love for the ocean and nature.

While receiving his B.A. in Visual Communication and Advertising from California State University, Long Beach, David connected with a community of Black surfers, the Black Surfers Collective. Through this connection, David’s relationship to California’s Black surfing culture and position within the community deepened. 

In the wake of the global movement for racial justice in the U.S. and beyond following a series of hate crimes in 2020, including the murder of George Floyd by police officers, Mesfin was inspired to utilize his skills in a positive light. 

Channeling his creative energy into something that he envisioned would uplift his community, he started the Wade in the Water project, an intended Youtube video which soon snowballed into an award-winning full-length feature documentary that is currently making its rounds to film festivals across the globe. 

Having premiered at the 31st Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival with a sold-out showing, Wade in the Water continues to captivate the hearts and minds of audiences everywhere it plays. 

While its content serves to educate the general public on the vibrant and storied past of Black surfing and African aquatic culture, Wade in the Water carries forth with a steadfast commitment to its objective—inspiring the next generation of Black surfers. 

Moving forward, Mesfin and the creative team behind Wade in the Water are in the market for a distribution deal that will aid in making the film accessible to wider demographic.

For more information about David’s experience in creative direction and multi-disciplinary visit www.davidmesfin.com