Posted on 04/07/2012 2:43:19 PM PDT by the scotsman
'A month ago, six African-American teenagers drowned in a single incident in Louisiana, prompting soul-searching about why so many young black Americans can't swim.
When 15-year-old DeKendrix Warner accidentally stepped into deeper water while wading in the Red River in Shreveport, he panicked.
JaTavious Warner, 17, Takeitha Warner, 13, JaMarcus Warner, 14, Litrelle Stewart, 18, Latevin Stewart, 15, and LaDarius Stewart, 17, rushed to help him and each other.
None of them could swim. All six drowned. DeKendrix was rescued by a passer-by.
Maude Warner, mother of three of the victims, and the other adults present also couldn't swim.
The US has almost 3,500 accidental drownings every year, almost 10 a day. But according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fatal drowning rate of African-American children aged five-14 is three times that of white children.
A recent study sponsored by USA Swimming uncovered equally stark statistics. Just under 70% of African-American children surveyed said they had no or low ability to swim. Low ability merely meant they were able to splash around in the shallow end. A further 12% said they could swim but had "taught themselves".
The study found 58% of Hispanic children had no or low swimming ability. For white children, the figure was only 42%.
"It is an epidemic that is almost going unnoticed," says Sue Anderson, director of programmes and services at USA Swimming.
The swimming body would like all children to be taught to swim.
"We would like it to be like seatbelts and bicycle helmets," says Ms Anderson.
But the situation in the US can vary hugely even within a single state.'
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
While in the Army I attended the water safety classes 2 times. The first time was in basic training, the second was while stationed at Ft. Lewis. In basic training I didn’t particularly notice the lack of swimming by blacks, but they were only about 10% of the participants.
At Ft. Lewis because my unit was about 60% black, it was blatantly obvious. Out of over 50 blacks, one older E-6 from the South could swim. The rest panicked and would have been drowning victims. For an example of exactly how it looked, watch this video.
Myself and a couple other young white enlisted guys took turns retrieving the rubber dummy M-16 that was immediately dropped by the blacks upon entering the water.
My thoughts on why blacks don’t swim:
1: Lack of pools in the inner cities. Many reasons for this including parks and recreation funds funneled off for corruption, welfare, HHS, section 8, food stamps, etc...
2: Lack of Fathers
3: School districts not teaching “Outdoor” or “Swimming” programs to concentrate on social justice issues.
If you read the comments at the article, a person from Zimbabwe makes that very point.
It seems this non swimming habit is both cultural and global in nature, judging from the comments.
This is similar to what I was taught in the Navy.
I dont recall if they bound our hands, but the did bind our feet..
Agreed!
Not really. Most black folks are urban, and there are plenty of pools around. On hot days, they're packed.
The problem is that learning to swim takes practice, and that usually means a parent who can teach you, or a parent who gets you to lessons regularly. If the parents grew up swimming themselves, they will take that in stride. If they didn't, it's another story.
Then subtract dad from the equation, and add a couple of siblings to occupy the time of a single mom, who as a non-swimmer herself doesn't see it as a priority. The kids don't learn because they're not taught.
The lack of parental support is glaring. We see it in soccer. I live in a gentrifying but still quite diverse neighborhood. There is no particular reason youth soccer should be a white sport, but it is. In the early years, it's a cattle call. The fields are convenient (that changes when the kids get a little older and actually need a regular field and real goals) and the cost is low. But the black kids are few and far between. A lot show up initially, but they don't stay. The reason is simply the logistical burden on single moms.
I know the reason after spending my time teaching black youth at school and asking them this very question.
1. Public pools and their programs are nearly unattended by most black families. This was not so in the 80’s, but lately many black families have shunned the community pool.
2. Many blacks perpetuate the myth that they cannot swim.
3. Remember the Olympics that our beloved media mocked that one African participant in the Olympics? Yeah, that too.
Is this racist? No. I asked my students, and the mentioned each of these answers to me as reasons. One of my kids said “Black folks aren’t made to swim like white folks aren’t made to jump.” I laughed.
I’m 35 and arthritic so don’t feel bad.
We're gonna force you to swim! ☺
Not saying a word. Not a word.
One of my relatives in the military (para-rescue) told me reason why no Blacks in his unit is because they are such poor swimmers; something you have to be able to do in that field, no joke.
It’s because you can’t bounce a ball on the bottom of a pool.
I hope that young man learned to swim.
He just panicked, that’s all.
LMAO!
One of the best survival techniques while bound in a pool is to bounce off the bottom.
Get air, exhale.. descend.. bounce.. lather rinse repeat.
If a culture other than mine doesn’t feel that way then let them reap the results like men. Take the good with the bad. It is what it is and that’s all there is to it.
THAT is a 100 percent frameable post. God bless all people who teach little kids how to swim. It's easy -- people are naturally well-equipped to swim. Babies can learn how to "swim" before they're a year old.
Seems to be dying out.
We would regularly see them wearing rolled up old nylons for caps, rolled up paper bags, plastic bags - if they could get it to fit on their heads they would wear it.
Not seen so much anymore.
Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay
Words by Jean C. Havez, Music by George Botsford
Verse 1: 'Round the bend I see the steamer comin' dear,
Headin' here, to this pier;
If you hurry we will make it, never fear,
On the old Dominion Line.
Ain't she sailing pretty as she hugs the shore,
Steamin' for Baltimore.
Hear the paddles turnin', Hear the water churning,
She's the queen of Chesapeake Bay!
Chorus: Come on, Nancy, put your best dress on!
Come on, Nancy, 'fore the steamboats gone.
Everything is lovely on the Chesapeake Bay,
All aboard for Baltimore, and if we're late they'll all be sore!
Now look here, Captain, let's catch that boat,
We can't swim, and brother, we can't float!
Banjoes strumming a good old tune,
Up on deck is the place to spoon.
Cuddled up close beneath the silv'ry moon,
Sailing down the Chesapeake Bay.
...or yacht.
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