Stab Magazine | Sal Masekela's Speech On Racism And Surfing Will Give You Chills

Live Now: Chapter 11 Mini-Documentary With Dane Reynolds

1549 Views

Sal Masekela’s Speech On Racism And Surfing Will Give You Chills

From yesterday’s Encinitas paddle-out, in memory of George Floyd. 

cinema // Jun 5, 2020
Words by stab
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Yesterday, San Diego surfers convened at Moonlight Beach for a Black Lives Matter paddle-out led by Encinitas local and prominent action sports analyst, Sal Masekela. 

Standing over a crowd of 500-1,000, Sal delivered a speech so powerful that it reverberates deep in our core, even in this abridged, digitized state. 

Here’s a little run-down of the event from someone who had their toes in the sand:

Silently observing the eight minutes and 46 seconds it took that officer to kill George Floyd was transformative. As fists began to rise, the silence was broken only by the sound of rolling waves—this was the highest level of respect I’ve ever witnessed from a crowd for that period of time.

The energy of the paddle out was strong, though it was filled with many white, privileged faces. This served as a reminder of where we are as a surfing culture and where we need to be.

There is no looking back. This community needs to open its doors. The ocean heals, and it is not limited to those who just have the privilege. It is our duty to uplift and share this joy of the ocean.

Chants broke, Sal and all the leaders were trembling with emotions. The swaths of people disappeared by the splashing of water voices screaming for justice.

 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Watch: What Happens When A Brand Takes Its Youth Team To A CT Event?

A: Good things, typically.

Mar 29, 2024

Full Frame: Scandinavia Is Surfing’s Next Frontier

A 30-hour drive, bathymetric maps, and 10 years of searching yield surfing's newest discovery.

Mar 29, 2024

Watch: João Chianca Had A Remarkable Hawaii Season Before His Injury

Plus an update on his condition.

Mar 28, 2024

Pittar’d And Feathered

Do the WSL judges deserve the internet's wrath? We asked the man of the hour.

Mar 28, 2024

Robbo, Pickles, And Tyler Wright Become The Underdogs Breakfast At Uninspiring Winkipop

The foreboding blade sharpens and inconsistent judging prevails on Day Two in Torquay.

Mar 27, 2024

“I Don’t Always Win Heats, But When I Do, I Try To Beat John John”

Slater shines and the axe begins its descent on Day 01 at Bells.

Mar 26, 2024

Back Against The Wall: The Ramzi Boukhiam Redemption

Morocco's first CT surfer on speaking six languages, having no coach, and snatching Fil Toledo's…

Mar 25, 2024

Will Kirra, Babies or JJF Stop a GOAT Winning at Bells?

Bluesky BOAG advice from a Superman specialist and former Trials winner.

Mar 25, 2024

Bells Preview: The WSL’s Victorian Sword Dancing Equinox Ritual

Will a Brazilian crack the Top 10 at Bells?

Mar 25, 2024

69 Shin Bones Later + the Anticlimactic State of Big Wave Record-Breaking

Lucas Chumbo might have surfed the biggest wave ever this year. But how will we…

Mar 23, 2024

Watch: ‘Fresh and Fried’ Ft the Quik Kids

How taxing is it to tackle the Gold Coast’s Triple Crown in a single day,…

Mar 23, 2024

The Popular Vote: The People’s Stab In The Dark With Kolohe Andino Champion

Which board looked best — to you —under Kolohe's talons?

Mar 22, 2024

Six Key Learnings From Portugal

Three CT events in, what do we know? 

Mar 21, 2024

‘Zipper’ Is Going On Tour, Here’s Where You Can Watch It  

Dates, times + locations for the Venice, Encinitas, Sydney + Byron premieres.  

Mar 20, 2024

Dane Reynolds On His Future, His Past, And Chapter 11’s Raison D’être

Our 9-minute plunge into the collective psyche of Ventura's pillar(s).

Mar 20, 2024

From ‘Blue Ribbon Cross Country Runner’ to Vogue – How Steph Again Is Back With A Rip Curl Remix

Everything we know about the she-GOATs sponsorship boomerang.

Mar 18, 2024

Stab Interview: Darren Handley Explains Why You Can’t Buy The Winning Stab In The Dark Model

And his decades-long standoff with Slater.

Mar 17, 2024

Griff Embraces Portugal’s Eternal Time Loop To Vanquish Medina + Ewing, Defay Delays The Inevitable

A redeeming closing act at Supertubos.

Mar 16, 2024
Advertisement