Like watermarks on paper, aquatics can leave indelible
impressions on cultures, on memories, and on one’s sense
of place and identity.
—Kevin Dawson, University of California professor and author of Undercurrents of Power: Aquatic Culture in the African Diaspora
From “Black people can’t swim” to medaling at the Olympics (like Lia Neal, right) Black people are breaking barriers—in line with our ancient African ancestors who possessed legendary aquatic skills.
Reclaiming the Waters is a feature documentary by
Pamela K. Johnson currently in production. It will explore current-day efforts to get Black people swimming in the U.S. and West Africa.
With filming completed in Freetown, Sierra Leone (West Africa) and along the Gullah Geechee Corridor (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina), the film will also look at the cultural ties that have been been growing on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
“The Beach Lady,” descend from American Beach
founder A.L. Lewis, along the Florida stretch of the Gullah Geechee Corridor.
With her previous films about Black and Brown swimmers, The Sea is Our Garden and Wind & Waves, Pamela is excited to tell stories of people of color reclaiming spaces where they have previously been left out. She has received initial support from her 2023-2024 O’Brien Public Service Journalism fellowship at Marquette University. Additional financial support is needed to complete this project by January 2025.
Pamela K. Johnson 