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 ...
They were free in my city,and still are.
There’s always free swimming in rivers. I know there are blacks in the South who live around rivers yet they don’t swim. It’s a jaw dropping moment when we see a black on the water. Happens once every 7-10 years.
If I lived in the desert I would be looking for a good cool down.
I can’t shoot a decent jump shot nor dunk a basketball. So it evens out.
I suck at basketball, though the old man was a superstar.
I had once thought it was because a person couldn’t turn a profit on it. Mark Spitz, despite the 7 gold medals in one Olympiad, never converted his fame into many commercial endorsements, and there’s no market at all for professional swimmers.
However I’ve been corrected on this point regarding Summer Sanders, and maybe Janet Evans? - not sure if she made any money or not.
Anyway, I figured that black athletes would be drawn to football and basketball because of the money.
I chuckle when I read this: Many years ago in Navy Bootcamp a sailor was required to swim. Jumping off a 12 foot tower into the water. I think maybe one in twenty sank to the bottom of the pool. I thought at the time, “Why can’t they swim.” but sink they could.
I discovered aloe after I was an adult..
I keep a pot of it going.
Some people are driven by love and others by money.
Race probably isnt a factor.
There’s nothing like being on the water. It’s so serene.
Mom swore by vinegar.. I spent a couple of summers smelling like a pickle.
“Swimming lessons cost money. “
And many Black mothers would rather spend theirs on their hairdo and nails. Children are supposed to be taken care of by the school or the government.
Those were the days.
I was the tag along with my teen age sisters to the pool on Sunday afternoons.
They spent the afternoons flirting with boys and eating Banana Bikes.
I spent all my time in the water with the cute boys .. I was a tiny and thought it fun teaching me how to go off the high dive and daring me to swim across the pool underwater with 1 breath.
Get on the wires, now we know how to take them down. Let the other cities know.
I always assumed they just felt sorry for "whitey" and decided to leave one sport he could dominate.
Well...that an “curling”, of course!
Its physiological to some degree
Facts like bone density, testosterone, cranial volume, muscle Displacement, heat tolerance or cold intolerance, birth canal differences
Etc that science ignores....
Not only ignores but will lie about and spend billions to fail to refute
There are races...finely and loosely
And they do differ
These truths are self evident.....all always have been
Donating just never hurt me
I`ve always been blessed with good health,service
connected injuries but good health
Sorry about your husbands health issues
Best wishes
That would lighten freckles.
I’d think that would be ouch on a sunburn.
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