[1rudeboy]

It has something to do with some blacks' BMI and center of gravity. I had a black kid in one of my swim classes (in good shape) who simply couldn't float. I tried all the tricks, he couldn't.

I told him, I will teach you to swim, but you should try something a little less dangerous.

[MWestMom]

I can't float either. I float like a rock. Always thought it was the fact that I was a little large in the posterior. : )

If you put a life-jacket on me or a ski belt I'm good to go. Snorkeled in Cozumel in a life jacket. Just wasn't going to pass up the experience.

[lmr]

One of my best friends as a child was black and could swim just fine. He was a great diver, also. I don’t think it has anything to do with physiology. I think many inner-city blacks just never get the opportunity to learn how to swim. Their parents never take them. Not many pools in the hood, I guess. By the way, my friend and I both grew up in the inner city. I learned how to swim at an apartment complex pool practically on my own. I am not sure where he learned...

[Varda]

Floating has to do with how fat you are. Fat people float. Low fat levels and you sink. I sink if I don’t keep moving but swim pretty well. I doubt I’d have survived a sink hole opening in a river though. I doubt anybody could.

[AppyPappy]

“It has something to do with some blacks’ BMI and center of gravity”

Nah. That’s an old wives tale. Black kids swim at Scout Camp all the time. Poorer kids just rarely have access to water and instructors. You either learn from an instructor or your father. If your dad can’t swim, half that equation is out.

[FourPeas]

I’ve read the same about BMI and center of gravity making it difficult for some colored people to float and even swim.

[Osage Orange]

I must be black...

I cannot float for the life of me...I've tried it thousands of times. I just sink...Good thing I am a strong swimmer.

Now my oldest girl floats like a cork. In fact when she swims it looks like half her body is out of the water...LOL!!