These Polar Bears Warm to Martha’s Vineyard

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 6, 2026

For 80 years, the Polar Bears group has gathered each summer on Martha’s Vineyard to take early morning swims in Nantucket Sound, fostering exercise and community among Black visitors at Inkwell Beach. This enduring ritual, born out of segregation-era exclusion, continues to draw hundreds and serves as a vital space for cultural connection and healing across generations.

OAK BLUFFS, Mass. — For eight decades, a group known as the Polar Bears has gathered each summer on Martha’s Vineyard to take an early morning plunge into the chilly waters of Nantucket Sound. This longstanding tradition provides Black visitors with an opportunity for exercise, fellowship, and connection on Inkwell Beach, near downtown Oak Bluffs.

Each day from the Fourth of July through Labor Day, participants meet at 7:30 a.m. to wade into the ocean and engage in water aerobics, honoring ancestors, and performing a confidential ritual. The group, which often draws hundreds of bathers, emphasizes a two-hour commitment to the full practice. Membership is marked by a card granting access to a dedicated social media group and is considered a badge of honor.

The ritual traces back to 1946, when a Black innkeeper and seasonal workers initiated the gatherings as a space to promote wellness and community during a period of racial segregation. At the time, many areas of Martha’s Vineyard’s beaches were off-limits to Black swimmers, making Inkwell Beach a central meeting place. Over time, the tradition has endured and expanded, with recent events drawing as many as 519 participants.

Leading the group for nearly four decades, Caroline Hunter, 80, a retired chemist and educator, encourages the swimmers despite the often frigid temperatures. Hunter provides water shoes for those unprepared and stresses the importance of following instructions to maximize benefits and safety. The group meets regardless of rain, pausing only in cases of thunder or lightning.

Participants describe the swim as both physically invigorating and spiritually meaningful. Tracé Gaskin, 66, a longtime Polar Bear, credited the daily routine with a healing quality that spans generations. Newcomers, like Melissa Hinckson, a 63-year-old teacher visiting from Brooklyn, have experienced emotional connections to the ritual, framing it as a meaningful tradition and source of community.

Among the diverse age range of swimmers is Diane Clarke Streett, 76, a retired Delaware state judge who relies on assistance to enter the water but attends whenever possible during her summers on the island. She highlighted the communal support among members and the lasting positive impact of the experience throughout the year.

Returning to the Polar Bears’ routine has been likened to a family reunion, with participants observing multiple generations partake each summer. For many, including Nicole Thomas-Jackson, 53, from Richmond, Virginia, the ritual deepens with time, offering moments of quiet reflection embedded within the shared experience.

As the Polar Bears mark their 80th season, the tradition remains a testament to resilience and connection, combining physical activity with cultural heritage on the shores of Martha’s Vineyard.

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