The Pioneers: Firsts in Black Skateboarding

9/04/2020

We owe a big debt to the Black skaters who paved the way. Check the history to see the trailblazers who made it happen and made skateboarding better for all. As seen in our September '20 issue.
First Black Skater in a Magazine with a Caption Charles Williams The Quarterly Skateboarder Spring 1965

First Black Skater in a Magazine with a Caption Charles Williams The Quarterly Skateboarder Spring 1965

First Black Pro Skaters Marty Grimes and Clyde Grimes

First Ad in a Magazine featuring a Black Skater Larry Bertlemann

First Black Skater on a European Magazine Cover Gilbert Angol May 1978

First Black Skater with a Pro Board Marty Grimes Z-Flex 1979

First Black Skater on a US Magazine Cover Chuck Treece May 1984

First Black Skater Appearance in a Major Skate Video Steve Steadham Powell-Peralta Bones Brigade Video Show 1984

First Black Skater to do a 540 Don Hillsman 1985

First Black Team Manager Bryan Ridgeway Tracker

First Black Skate Photographer Dobie Campbell United Kingdom

First Black Owned Company SHUT Skates 1986 and Steve Steadham Designs 1986

First Black European Skater with a Pro Board Neil Danns

First Black Skater with a Pro Street Board Ron Allen H-Street 1988

First Black Skater with a Pro Board from the East Coast Ned "Peanut" Brown Airbourne 1988

First Black Female Pro Skater Stephanie Person 1988

First Black Skater with a Solo Video Part Ron Allen H-Street Shackle Me Not 1988

First Black Skater to Have Las Part in a Video Sean Sheffey Life Soldier's Story 1991

First Black Skater's Pro Shoe Model Sal Babier Etnies 1994

First Black Canadian Skater with a Pro Board Gailea Momolu

First Black Australian Skater with a Pro Board Chima Ferguson

First Black Skateboarding World Champion Nyjah Huston SLS 2010

First Black Woman with a Pro Board Samarria Brevard Hoopla 2016

First Video Part by a Black Woman Samarria Brevard Quit Your Day Job 2018

First Black Skater to Finish First in a Pool Contest Zion Wright Vans Park Series 2018

Have a correction, addendum or idea for a missing category or fact? Please leave suggestions in the comments. Thank you!

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Thrasher Magazine

The Pioneers: Firsts in Black Skateboarding

Burnout: Rise and Shine

This Old Ledge: Venice and Santa Monica

Jacob Rosenberg's "Epicenter" Opening Photos

This Old Ledge: Fort Miley

This Old Ledge: Pulaski

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