Tag: Black history
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Pam Cox
I found this photo not long ago of Pam Cox skateboarding in both the Newport News Daily Press (August 22, 1978, p.3) and Culpeper Star Exponent (September 2, 1978, p.3) based out of Virigina. The photo was taken by Kenneth Silver and Pam was obviously living it up, dialed into the radio with her headset…
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Ocea Lei Iverson
In 2010, a powerful exhibit at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles was launched called “How We Roll,” focused on Black surf and skate culture, and Ocea Lei Iverson (she/her/they/them) was part of the planning team focused on women’s participation. Ocea’s father is Black American with Indigenous heritage, and her mother is first…
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Cheryl Thornton
Cheryl Thornton, age 12 from Fort Worth, Texas was competing against the boys at a skateboard contest in May 1977 and came 2nd in Freestyle! The photo was taken by Rodger Mallison showcasing Cheryl holding onto a laid-back handstand, which she received a trophy for. Photos of her competitors Michael Clay (14) and Jerome Willet…
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Stephanie Person
Stephanie Person is the first Black female professional skateboarder and her contributions throughout the 1980s are legendary. Skateboarding has always appealed to youth regardless of race or gender (see: Cheryl Thornton) but the barriers facing women & non-binary skaters of color to embrace sport and subculture are incomparable (see: Ramdasha Bikceem). Photo: Stepanie’s board says…
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Ramdasha Bikceem
In 1990, when Ramdasha Bikceem (they/them) from Basking Ridge, New Jersey was 15 years old they started an all-girl skater gang and band, both called Gunk. Ramdasha taught themself to play guitar without formal training, and the band’s early shows were held in the basement of a friend’s parent’s place. The following year Ramdasha launched…
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Mary Mills
The title of an article from Textured Waves website asks, “Do you know Mary Mills? Well you should.” And it’s true! Mary Mills, as an African American surfer has been raising awareness about diversity in subcultures like surfing and skateboarding, and her Instagram byline describes herself as a “middle aged nonconformist.” The photo that triggered…
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KZ Zapata
Flipping through old Thrasher magazines I spotted two mystery photos of a skater named KZ Zapata. In April 1986, a photo of her was included in an article by Bonnie Blouin called “Sugar and Spice…?” alongside Stephanie Person, April Hoffman, Babs Fahrney, and Michelle Sanderson. The caption said she was a 19-year-old student at UCSB…
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Crystal Solomon
Crystal Solomon was a skateboarder in the early 2000s from San Jose, and I feel like the skateboarding community needs to know her story. All I’ve got is that Crystal was sponsored by Osiris shoes, Circle A Boardshop, Ball Hitch Ramps, got flow from Enjoi, and was pro for Cherry skateboards (a female-run board company…
Womxn Skateboard History 