In this clip from The Plug w/ Justin Jay, Selema Masekela opens up about the racism he faced in the water as a kid, the life-changing moment he first saw a Black surfer in a magazine, and why representation matters so deeply in surfing.
He reflects on the groundbreaking presence of athletes like Michael February, the cultural and economic barriers that have kept Black surfers underrepresented on the world tour, and the inspiring grassroots movements building new communities of Black surfers today.
From Ebony Beach Club in Los Angeles to surf collectives in New York, Selema highlights how a new generation is claiming space in the lineup and changing the face of surf culture.
Check out the full conversation on THE PLUG W/ JUSTIN JAY wherever you find your podcasts or at
https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com.
New Episodes drop every other Thursday.
00:00 – Selema on being called the N-word while surfing as a kid
00:39 – The first time he saw a Black surfer in Surfer Magazine
01:15 – Representation and inspiration: “If you can see it, you can be it”
01:38 – Michael February’s impact and artful style
02:10 – Surfing that transcends sport and reaches culture
02:36 – Justin asks: Why is Black representation still so low on tour?
03:05 – Economic vs cultural barriers to access
03:25 – Redlining, coastal living, and why surfing wasn’t a norm in Black communities
04:00 – Historical Black surfers in Ghana and water culture
04:35 – The new wave: Ebony Beach Club, Farme & Co., and community building
05:05 – How young Black surfers today are reshaping surf culture
