In the 1920s, like many other places in the country, Santa Monica experienced racial segregation in various forms.  This included the city's public beaches, which were typically limited to whites only.  For the African American community, the only place they were able to spread their blankets on the sand was in a 200 square foot area of beach at the foot of Pico Boulevard.  Marked with a sign that said "Negroes Only", the beach was one of the few places where black beachgoers could freely congregate and socialize without the stress of racial tension of other locations.  The beach became known as the "Ink Well."

African American families and teenagers continued to congregate at the Ink Well long after the racial restrictions on beaches were invalidated in 1927.  As late as the 1960s, the beach spot continued to be popular for post-church family outings for picnics, volleyball and fun in the ocean.  It was also where many young African American surfers got their start.

In the 1940's, Nicoals Gabaldon taught himself to surf at the Ink Well, becoming the first documented African American surfer.  After graduating from Santa Monica High School, he enlisted in the Navy, serving during the tail end of World War II.  After returning home, he attended classes at Santa Monica College and continued to surf.  He befriended many of the top white surfers of the day, essentially breaking the color barrier as Jackie Robinson had in baseball.  Tragically, Nicolas died at 24 in a surfing accident at Malibu Pier on June 6, 1951.

On February 14, 2006, Rhonda R. Harper, a female African American surfer, surf historian and CEO of Inkwell Surf, petitioned the city of Santa Monica for a memorial plaque in honor of Nicolas Gabaldon and Ink Well Beach.  The plaque was unveiled at 11 a.m. on February 7, 2008.  It is located at Bay Street and Ocean Front Walk, at the spot where Bay Street meets the bike path.

The Santa Monica Conservancy is holding a lecture on March 9th at Cavalry Baptist Church at 2 p.m.  The title of the lecture is "African Americans & The Beach:  A Lecture on the Santa Monica Beach Area Once Known as the "Inkwell" & Our Local Surfing Community".  It will feature a panel discussion with Rhonda R. Harper, historian Alison Rose Jefferson, and film makers Portia Scott-Hicks and Paul Richardson.

Source:  Santa Monica Daily Press, City remembers segregationist past with candor
By Melody Hanatani, 8 February 2008

Source:  Black Athlete Sports Network, Ink Well, Gabaldon Statue Dedication Set for February
29 January, 2008

Source:  Santa Monica Conservancy

Source:  The Look Out News, City Commemorates Ink Well Beach, First Black Surfer
By Anita Varghese, 19 September 2007

Source:  Los Angeles Times, L.A. Then and Now; In "Whites Only" Era, an Oasis for L.A.'s Blacks
By Cecilia Rasmussen, 3 July 2005