How New York’s Rockaway Beach became a harbor for Black surfers

The surf spot is a subway ride from Manhattan, and it welcomes a diverse community connecting to nature and each other

It's a silver-blue January morning with no separation between sky and water, and a diverse line up of surfers take in their ritual. The waves come choppy, clean, short, thick, fast, chest high and occasionally over my head. On this frigid day I'm encouraged to surf with a longboard, and I've almost forgotten to don my cap. The wind greets my face and I howl in return, grateful. I look around after finishing my ride and see people simmering in joy. These are the scenes at New York's Rockaway Beach, a harbor for Black surfers.

Coming from the security of snow-blanketed mountain peaks to the crashing, storm propelled waves of the east coast, I've stumbled on a dynamic community of surfers: artists, activists, community leaders, film-makers, and creatives. Surfers mending the world through their connection to the sport.