Color The Water is…
a community for anti-racist BIPOC to reclaim space in the ocean through joyful, defiant liberation seeking surf guidance, protection, celebration, education, and media.
Our Story
From Tragedy to Resolve
Color the Water began as a way to fight racism after the murder of George Floyd. Rather than continue to fight to try and change the minds and hearts of those who have had more than enough time, energy, and resources dedicated to their racial awakening, Color the Water was distinctly intended to be a space where BIPOC could connect to the ocean to heal from all the atrocity, learn without all the white supremacist baggage, and create a surf praxis (theory combined with action) that genuinely embodied anti-racism. 2020 is long gone… DEIs are getting shut down left and right… we are still here.
Who We Are
David Malana | Creator; Leader
David is a second generation Filipino American educator and creator. Born and raised in San Dimas, with a life of international work and travel, David seeks genuine freedom for the oppressed. Whether that be working for equal opportunities for communities of color abroad, or now as he strives to reimagine surf culture through radical abolitionist philosophies that go hard on racism and gentle with our people, David seeks to be a part of the revolution and liberation of us all.
David created Color the Water in summer of 2020 as a response to the call for action after the murder of George Floyd by police. A series of paddle outs shed a new light on surfing for him after nearly 20 years of accepting surfing as a guilty, individual, indulgent escape from the terror of the world. Now, with Color the Water, there exists a chance to connect surfing with the work of liberation that David has sought throughout his life.
Through a childhood of basketball David learned to dismantle the stranglehold of meritocracy and competition as determinants of self worth. Through deep rural life of Central Asia via Peace Corps he faced his own perpetuation of the white savior industrial complex as well as many anti-lessons of how to genuinely serve communities, while receiving blessings and lessons from the people on how to live collectively, and in community.
Through a life of travel and adventure David has learned that surf culture and American culture do not have to be what they are now, and that now, at home, there is finally space to contribute to the cause within.
Co-founders/Founding Members
From the beginning, Color the Water has been a collective effort. Though started by an individual, it was only through the faith, belief, and effort of many that it was made more than a passing fad. Below are the founding members that solidified the notion of Color the Water from a hashtag, to a community, to an organization, to what it is now, and what it will become. Wherever Color the Water goes, these are the people who nourished the soil of the seeds David planted in that fateful year of 2020.
Ludine Ashley
Nathan Fluellen
Joi Madison
Lizelle Jackson (co-founder)