An internationally recognized surfing hotspot, Jeffreys Bay of South Africa offers undeniably exquisite surf experiences. An unbelievable sight, Marc Price speaks highly of Jeffreys Bay: “It’s an almost indescribable sight, watching from the beach, you start off looking up to your right and end up facing left as the wave travels down the point. This 180-degree perspective is something no photograph can capture.” Mark Price is right to be amazed by this surf break that seems to last forever. Considered as one of the top ten surfing destinations, it consists of a long and fast, tubed right point break that can be broken up and referred to in smaller sections. These smaller sections include the Kitchen Windows, Magna Tubes, Boneyards, Supertubes, …show more content…
The scenes of the movie took place at Cape St. Francis, only twenty miles south of Jeffreys Bay. Similar to this article, The Endless Summer also fails to show the conflict and racial struggles that South Africa has historically faced. In 1989, South Africa’s beaches were desegregated by law. Prior to this, there had been longstanding restrictions on who was allowed on the beaches and even when there were no segregation laws regarding beaches, the separation remained. Black citizens were in danger and faced discrimination and exclusion from the world of surfing. As segregation laws were lifted, it took much more time for the adjustment and inclusion of all races. This was only a small step in the end of the apartheid system. The struggle of enforcing desegregation and incorporating mixed use of beaches created the idea of surfing as a “white sport.” In order to have the luxury of leisure time and be able to afford the equipment and access to surfing in general, one would need to be at least somewhat affluent. South Africa’s apartheid left many people of color on the lower end of economic status. In addition to the lack of monetary resources, many of these said people had not had the opportunity to learn how to swim because of the segregation laws. Without being able to swim, one cannot surf. This puts all people of color at a disadvantage to join the world of surfing. …show more content…
A major benefit to being known as a surf destination is the economic impact it can have on an area. Surfers are a niche group that can be marketed to and boost an economy. Places like Jeffreys Bay can bring in tourists and promote surfing to target this group. Events, products, and hospitality provide a significant influx of money to the area. Competitions are often held in this Jeffreys Bay and many famous surfers have been groomed here and brought to fame. Some of which include Tom Curren and Kelly Slater, who were able to pioneer the use of the new high-performance short boards at J-Bay, where so many had failed before them. Often referred to as the best point break on Earth, Jeffreys Bay is a high-speed right that provides a lengthy tube ride sought after by many. If one is lucky, they could ride a wave for the entirety of Jeffreys Bay equaling out to about three-quarters of a mile, approximately a two-minute ride with how fast the wave rolls. Unfortunately, with all the positives that come with surf tourism, there also comes the question of what negative implications surfing and tourism can have on the environment in this foreign
“ Sirens blared, voices screamed and shouted, wood cracked and windows shattered, children bawled, dogs barked and footsteps pounded”(7). This scene is from the autobiography Kaffir Boy written by Mark Mathabane. That is one of the scenes he had to live through every morning in apartheid South Africa. Apartheid is a policy of segregation and economic discrimination against non-whites. Apartheid system affected every black person living in South Africa during that time. It forced blacks to become slaves in their own country. The system forced blacks to live in unsanitary environments, work-degrading jobs and carry passes, and receive limited education. Blacks and whites were living in different sections during apartheid.
4. Pierce, Nathan, Ish, Teresa. “Position of the Surfrider Foundation, Santa Cruz Chapter on the proposed cliff stabilization along Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz.” 2 December 2004.
In an Article about sports and society, Bridget Lockyer discusses the 1950’s onwards, as being a pivotal moment for black Americans. As they were increasingly active in speaking out about the injustice of American society; the segregation of black and white; the discrimination black Americans faced in employment and housing; the disenfranchisement of black people on electoral registers and the widespread violence and prejudice they were forced to endure, (Lockyer, 2009). Before marchers, bus riding freedom riders, boycotters and other protesters began their crusade for freedom, the Jim Crow laws prevented blacks and whites from integrati...
Dramatically different percentages of blacks and whites engaged in various sports are not random events. It appears that blacks concentrate on sports in which future economic incentives exist, and in which exclusive training facilities, equipment, and personalized coaching is not necessary during the developmental years. On the other hand, whites tend to gravitate toward individual sports in which developmental expenses are relatively high; they tend to engage in team sports in which future employment as professionals is minimal.
Walton, John C. The Changing Status of the Black Athlete in 20th Century United States. 1996. 21 April 2014 .
Although the struggle for equal rights, food, welfare and survival were all central themes in both narratives, through this essay one could see how similar but at the same time distinctive the injustices for race relations were in South Africa’s apartheid regime and in the Jim Crow South’s segregation era were. The value for education, the struggle to survive and racism were all dominant faces that Anne Moody and Mark Mathabane faced on a day to day basis while growing up that shaped they their incredible lives with.
...tudents, American slaves, and 1890’s immigrant children, in similar ways. Sport is often vital to the autonomy, freedom, and pride of its participants especially in regards to the Native American students at boarding schools. Even though individuals may have thought that the schools were exploiting the talents of the Native American students, which they may have been, no one considered how the students actually viewed sport at the time. There often needs to be less preoccupation with political correctness and more focus on how certain actions actually affect the ones involved. Even if the schools were exploiting the students by sport, sports should never even been taken away from the Native American students of boarding skills due to the fact that it was sport that often was allowing them to develop; not only as a Native American, but as an individual as well.
Sports have served as a platform on which the subject of race has been highlighted. Sports have unfailingly been considered the microcosm of society. This is because the playing fields have revealed the dominant culture’s attitudes and beliefs that people held about race relations throughout history in the United States. Many racial barriers were broken in the world of sports long before they were crossed in the realm of mainstream society as a whole. From Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball during the year of 1947 to Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their fists clad in black gloves during the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics, sports have started conversations about race in the United States that have undeniably changed the course of race relations in the United States.
Driving on the serpentine road, we come across the black sand Waianapanapa Beach. This place is strikingly breathtaking because of its unique black sand beach surrounded by a shimmering, aquamarine ocean and a vibrant green landscape. It amazes us how the
Also, because of the laws and segregation, people claim that there is a ‘visible colored line’ in public areas such as beaches, restrooms, parks, movie theaters etc (William and Darity 445-447).... ... middle of paper ... ... To conclude, due to the lack of education and clichéd thought, African Americans didn’t receive the same respect and opportunity as compared to Whites.
Discrimination and segregation of African Americans had existed for generations. Whites and blacks were separated in schools, churches, on buses, in restaurants and on the playing fields. In the early 1900’s, there was not only continued bias towards African Americans; many lived in contiguous neighborhoods, minimizing interaction with other Americans. Sports where African Americans once demonstrated dominance such as cycling and horse racing discriminated also. Cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor at one time dominated American cycling until “jealous white rivals colluded to force Taylor to see his sustenance in Europe by 1901” (Wiggins, p.158) Taylor was a pioneer for African American athletes. He “overcame the constraints of a society bounded by the racial hypocrisy...
To put it succinctly, the diverging of color barriers in professional nationwide sports greatly contributed to the converging of the varying national populace. One instance in particular was indispensable to this progression, which was the landmark battle of Jackie Robinson ... ... middle of paper ... ... tatives in the world leading social institutions counting: education, religion, health and medicine, law, governmental politics, economics, mass media, and indubitably sports.
As surfing becomes more popular, it takes away from the humble beginnings, which angers some of the originals. If surfing can become so popular that it branches out to many new ideas and activities then clearly it is a huge