Rowing in Color

#005 - Arshay Cooper brings his message of hope when talking about the power of diversity in rowing. On March 27, 2020, his documentary “A Most Beautiful Thing” was scheduled to premiere. However, it was postponed due to the shelter in place which was placed in an effort to flatten the curve against coronavirus. In our conversation, we talk about his story which highlights what it was like to be in the first public high school all-black boat and how that story has changed the lives of young people who have gone onto row in college. Furthermore we talk about the "comeback race" and what it was like to be coached by Mike Teti. We also talk about the film, which is directed by former Olympian Mary Mazzio and produced by 9th Wonder, Grant Hill, Dwayne Wade, and narrated by Common. It was also made with support from the Winklevoss twins, USRowing, row2k, Hudson Boat Works, Anita DeFrantz, David Banks, and many others. Arshay’s new book with the same title as the film is due to release on June 30, 2020. For more on Arshay, check out his website at https://www.arshaycooper.com/ or find him on social media @arshay_cooper

#001: Welcome to Rowing in Color, where we publish interviews from Black History Month only a month later. We kick the season off by interviewing Dwayne Adams, Sr. He is the founder and executive director of Breaking Barriers Rowing & Fitness, which is a non profit organization located in Delaware. Its mission is to help youth (both with and without disability) and senior citizens through the sport of rowing. As a teenager, Dwayne was shot in the head, leaving him legally blind. He went on to become an elite adaptive rower, winning a bronze medal in the World Rowing Championship in Seville, Spain, in 2002. Hosts, Patricia and Denise, talk to Dwayne about his journey to rowing, advice to young rowers, and what it means to be a black man in a white sport. For more on his organization, check out www.breakingbarriersde.org

#007 - At the end of March, we asked podcast listeners to send us responses to the following question: what's one thing you want your white coach to know? Because rowing is a pricy sport that also requires access to bodies of water, it inherently has socio-economic barriers that make the sport inaccessible to those who aren't able to access bodies of water or afford the sports' costs. As an unfortunate result, there aren't many rowers of color, and even fewer coaches of color. With the growing number of rowers of color in the sport, we thought it was important to ask this question.
And well, let me tell you, we got some responses. This extended episode features just five of the many responses that we received, along with Denise and Patricia's reactions and thoughts to the responses. Here are the time stamps for each anonymous response:

• 00:57 Anonymous Voice #1
• 13:50 Anonymous Voice #2
• 29:59 Anonymous Voice #3
• 39:06 Anonymous Voice #4
• 57:32 Anonymous Voice #5

We hope you'll help us continue this important conversation as we simultaneously launch this Facebook group for the Rowing in Color Community. This wasn't an easy question to ask, but we're not here for "easy." And let's be honest, it is a question that needs to be asked if anyone is serious about diversifying the sport. We recognize the good intention of white folks who are dedicated to diversifying the sport -- let us make that very very clear. With that we still have the freedom to explore the racial dynamics (and the positional authority) that well-intentioned white coaches have when trying to diversify their team. Because despite the best intentions, actions do not always reflect intentions. We hope that the discussion in this podcast helps us all -- no matter our skin color -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe and enjoy.

#008 - Trinity Billingslea is the strongest womens rower in the history of Santa Clara University Rowing and 2020 invitee to USRowing's Under 23 Selection Camp. We hope her confidence and her catchphrase (which you'll hear during the episode!) will inspire you and those who might also feel they don't "see" themselves in the sport.
We hope that the conversation in this podcast helps us all in the rowing world -- no matter your race -- to unify the rowing sport through diversity.

If you have a response to this or any episode, we want to hear it. Send us your voice message at www.speakpipe.com/rowingincolor or just check out our Linktree (linktr.ee/rowingincolor). If you don't follow us on IG already, find us @rowingincolor.

Lastly, if you can, please hit "follow" or "subscribe" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you can, please leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcast -- it would really mean a lot.

We hope you and yours are well. Stay safe and enjoy.

#006 - Tymir Green-Ellis is a Philadelphia-native and Senior rower at Johnson & Wales University where he is currently the only black rower on the team. In this interview he talks about his aspirations after college, as well as his experience being a Boathouse Sports Ambassador, coaching for Philadelphia City Rowing, and coaching for BLJ Community Rowing with Brannon Johnson. He shares what it feels like to have your collegiate rowing career cut short, as well as what it feels like to have other people who look like you on your rowing team — and what it feels like to not. To learn more about Tymir, follow him on Instagram @tymiryasin