(Compton, Calif.) Skateboarding and soccer collide in a new short film from Black Arrow (FC) and the LA Galaxy. The video features professional skater and Compton’s own Hakeem Ducksworth, as he experiences his first professional soccer match.
LA Galaxy and Black Arrow (FC) have partnered on a series of projects over the course of the 2020 Major League Soccer season. The third installment of their partnership follows the journey of Ducksworth, which begins with the skater shredding up to Dignity Health Sports Park to take in his first MLS game. While taking in the surreal moment, Cobi Jones, LA Galaxy legend and leader in USMNT caps, signed his board skateboard during an exchange on the field.
The film is a 5 minute, stylized skate video, that touches on what it means to be a black skater from Compton - and how the lifestyle of skating kept him out of trouble. Although on its surface the worlds of soccer and skateboarding might seem far apart, the film shows the parallels that exist between the respective communities and the similarities that draw people to both.
Ducksworth grew up in Compton, learned to skate and eventually signed with Chocolate Skateboards.
“I got into skating because of the unity in it all,” explained Ducksworth. “It brought everybody together and showed other young men that they can do what they want. To me a skateboarder from Compton that’s actually making it is a great thing because it’s giving other people a different perspective on life. That you don’t have to follow other people’s footsteps, that you make your own path and you can actually succeed.
“Going to the stadium and feeling all the love from the LA Galaxy fans was crazy,” shared Ducksworth. “You could feel the energy throughout the whole stadium. You don’t even have to know anyone, you just feel love. That’s how it is with skateboarding too, it’s just all love through this one thing we all love. I definitely plan on being more of a part of the soccer culture – LA Galaxy to be specific because this is my city and this is my home.”
The LA Galaxy and Black Arrow (FC) partnership was born out of their mutual quest to grow the game in the African American community and do so in an authentic and impactful way. Throughout the course of the season, Black Arrow and the most successful club in MLS history have worked together to release a combination of co-branded events, videos and various forms of creative digital content designed to reflect and pay homage to Los Angeles’ vibrant African American music, art and fashion scenes.
This short film is tantamount to a “lookbook” for the clubs 2020 home jersey, a celebration of their 25th season in Major League Soccer. Interested in supporting the LA Galaxy’s goal of integration and representation within the community, peep the short film here.# # #About the LA Galaxy: The LA Galaxy are five-time MLS Cup champions who play at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. About Black Arrow: Black Arrow is the world’s first lifestyle brand focusing on the nexus of soccer and black culture. For its projects, Black Arrow has received national and international media coverage from organizations such as CNN, Goal.com, Yahoo Sports, The Undefeated, Bleacher Report, COPA90, The Daily Nation and BBC Africa. The brand has become an instant success, described as “The New Wave” in the football world and building a following of over 100,000 fans representing 50 countries.
