True but backs seem to have a basic fear of water. I don’t have any idea why. This is a state with many rivers and deep creeks and bayous and blacks seem to want no part of swimming. Why? Serious question.
Same with the beaches in predominantly black areas near me. Blacks have lived on the coast all their lives and rarely do more than wading.
I grew up dirt poor so didn’t have a pool but the beach was close and free so I learned to swim very well.
Could be that Africa has very dangerous wildlife lurking in the waters so there is a natural fear of deep water that carried over.
I don’t think it’s a skin color thing, I think it is (generally) related to coming from regions where the waters have dangerous (to humans) predators, and over generations, learned behavior becomes instinct.
For example, my wife is a Filipina, and she’s fine in a pool or at the beach if the water is clear and no deeper than her armpits. Beyond that, forget it: She doesn’t even like being on a pond in a canoe with a life jacket on. A fellow in our local Fil-Am group would often say of Philippines: “A country of 1000 islands and nobody knows how to swim!” (Slight exaggeration, but has some truth to it.)
I’ve been told that they have slightly denser bones and higher muscle to fat ratio that makes floating more difficult.
Malaysians don’t swim either. It is very strange that a village full of people who live next to some of the most beautiful beaches in SE Asia have never gone swimming or even played in the water.
Well, I agree with long time LA Dodger General Manager Al Campanis who said it was “because they lack the bouncy”. Hell, it was obvious 10 years earlier when Smokin’ Joe Frazier participated in the swimming event in TV’s Superstars show.