Skateboarding has always been about creativity, style, and community, and Black skaters have been shaping the culture from the jump.
Looking back, some of the first Black professional skaters left their stamp decades ago.
Marty and Clyde Grimes became the first Black pros in 1975, opening doors and showing that if you grind for it, you can make it.
That same year, Larry Bertemann landed his first ad in a skate magazine, proving Black skaters were holding it down in the industry.
In 1978, Gilbert Angol hit the cover of a European skate magazine, bringing global shine to Black skaters.
Chuck Treece made history in 1984 as the first Black skater on the cover of Thrasher magazine.
That same year, Steve Steadham flexed in the Powell-Peralta Bones Brigade video, showing his skills and style to skaters everywhere.
A couple of years later, in 1986, Niel Danns earned his European pro board, cementing Black skaters’ place in professional skateboarding around the world.
It wasn’t just men holding it down. Stephanie Person, the first Black female pro skater, set the bar high and inspired a whole generation to pick up a board.
And of course, the scene wouldn’t be the same without legends like Kareem Campbell, Lord Williams, Ron Allen, Sean Sheffey, Ray Barbee, Clyde Singleton, Sal Barbier and more.
Black History Month is the perfect time to recognize these skaters and what they brought to the game. From pro boards to magazine covers to skate videos, these athletes shaped the culture and left a legacy that keeps inspiring new generations.
Skateboarding is richer because of them, and celebrating their grind honors the creativity, skill, and dedication they shared with the world.