Entity promotes the inclusion of black children and young people in surfing.
Racism, an evil present in all levels of society, does not spare black athletes, whether professional or not, all over the world. Brazil, a leader in black talent in sports, also lives this reality and demands an energetic fight from everyone against this crime, which seeks to make the achievements of black athletes invisible.
In football alone, the most popular sport in the country, at least 41% of black players who play in the main Brazilian championships have already suffered racism, although they are protagonists in the results achieved, according to the Survey on Diversity in Brazilian Football, published by Fisia Comércio de Produtos Esportivos, holder of the marketing rights for Nike No brazil.
But this crime doesn’t just happen on the pitch. A black woman, mother and activist, Nuala Costa has always had to fight racism in her life. A victim of many prejudices, the color of her skin seemed to be yet another obstacle for those who insisted on discrediting her.
“I grew up living with injustices and limitations that were imposed on me because I was black, and this also includes my sports career. It wasn’t easy because I was a female surfer, and the fact that I was black put a big magnifying glass on me and my actions, as if the color of my skin were a limitation on the activities I wanted to do. By becoming aware of who I was and what I represented, I became stronger in sports and today I can even bring this empowerment to other young people and children who came from the same peripheral reality as me and who will not give up on their dreams,” she says.
Nuala began her surfing career at the age of 16, through a social project. Despite her talent, she faced invisibility and a lack of sponsorship as a consequence of structural racism. Even without support, she participated in championships and achieved good placements, such as the Brazilian Amateur Surfing Championship, Super Trials and the Northeast Surf Circuit.
The challenges she faced and the consequent achievements, due to her perseverance, reverberated in the creation of the NGO Todas Para o Mar (TPM), a project that emerged with the objective of giving visibility to female surfing, but which expanded its range of action seeking to give opportunities to many black children and young people, as well as their families, to practice the sport in Maracaípe, a beach on the southern coast of Pernambuco.
“With the creation of the TPM collective, black women from the outskirts of the city, most of whom are heads of households, are able to have a space for the sports and educational development of their children, as well as socioeconomic support for themselves. I believe that I can provide an opportunity that is often denied due to the racism that is rooted throughout society,” reinforces Nuala.
The project currently serves around 120 women and 80 children and teenagers between the ages of 7 and 17, most of whom are black. The work indirectly impacts 250 families in the area, boosting their self-esteem and giving them the awareness they need to confront racism and persevere in the pursuit of their goals. The activist has drawn attention to the importance of combating racism, LGBTphobia and sexism at a young age, bringing awareness and acceptance to younger people.
To understand the needs of each family, home visits are carried out to understand the routine and needs of each young person. The activities proposed by TPM include surfing lessons, surfboard making workshops and participation in championships. In addition, the NGO offers classes in racial literacy, literacy, Spanish, capoeira, maracatu, afoxé, art therapy, theater, dance and movie sessions.
“We educate these young people from an early age, so that they understand that they do not depend on themselves to conquer the world, even when faced with obstacles such as racism. We give great priority to racial literacy classes, so that they recognize themselves and others when they practice racism, whether in sports or, especially, in life,” adds Nuala.
*Cover photo: Disclosure/All for the Sea
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