I never could teach any of them to float the way my mom taught me.
Video here.
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 ...
Hey Squawk...no doubt the lessons in Canada are free or close to it! What DOESN’T the poor taxpayer foot the bill for up here? I wasn’t sure how far along the happy handout trail America has come - they aren’t as bad as us. Their tax freedom day is still in April, IIRC.
What’s a “swamp yankee”? A carpetbagger who moved to Louisiana? Or someone from south Jersey?
Translation: Ms Anderson would like to see a billion dollar plus US Government Program to teach black children to swim. Since all these little chilrens could be Obama's son/daughter, it is only proper. It is racist to suggest that parents should ensure their children can swim.
There are so many losers who always look to create well-intended programs using OPM (other peoples’ money). Keep your socialist hands out of my wallet... you parasitic dregs!
They really aren’t “losers” per se....they are trying to get a bite of that giveaway apple, in the name of the chilrun.
Tragic that they could not swim but incredibly brave to wade in to try and save a friend or sibling whiloe knowing they could not swim.
But the non swimming thing is nothing new. 40 years ago in basic the number of black recruits who couldn't be drown proofed was amazingly high.
I have read the responses,and I fully understand that. You said it must be addressed, it must be acknowledged, and something should be done about it. My point is---by whom? Black people are not stupid. They know they will drown if they get in the water and can't swim. You can't force them to do something about it.
Worked with an engineer in MA who moved into a house with a fireplace. He came in one morning and told how he had bought three logs, tried them, and returned them to the convenience store because they didn't work..
He used up a whole box of safety matches -- holding them under the logs -- and the darn things just refused to light! (Obviously, he had never heard or thought of the concept of kindling...)
I don't think race had anything to do with it (this fellow just happened to be black). More likely, it was having grown up in a totally urban environment.
However, it may be cultural: out here in the piney woods, we had wiener roasts for our granddaughters' birthdays (their choice) -- and none of their (small town/rural) black friends or their parents had ever cooked anything over an open fire before. So we invited their parents to stay and join in -- and we all had a great time...
Your comments ring true. I just spent a week in Wash DC.
If society continues to break down, there are millions of folks who are totally unprepared to sustain themselves in any manner.
I can swim and I surf!
” My point is-—by whom?”
By everyone, in the sense that everyone should be allowed to acknowledge it as truth instead of pretending like it is a racist notion.
I’d venture to say that lifeguards and etc. should be allowed to act on that knowledge, swim instructors, p.e. teachers, camp leaders, Scout leaders, Red Cross folks... whoever (voluntarily) would like to deal with it. Most importantly, black people as they work towards making themselves and their children water safe.
I am not recommending any government program. Just an end to the p.c. stupidity that may indeed be resulting in the drownings and near drownings. People expect that black folks swim at the same rate as whites or other, and take action or not based on those assumptions. They shouldn’t.
Ice hockey too.
Make sure a child has swimming lessons, either formally or through the family, requires higher end parenting skills. The black community sadly, has a larger crossection that does not have that level or parenting ability.
My four black children swim like fish.
I never could teach any of them to float the way my mom taught me.
Video here.
Most of us went swimming with our parents when we were young - and later they dragged us to swimming lessons.
Same with reading... white parents read to their children more - have books in the home - take kids to ‘lessons’ of all types.
Most black parents don’t.
All the time. Things were so different not that many years ago.
What a funny video.
My kids all swim better than Mao, that’s for sure!
...six African-American teenagers drowned in a single incident in Louisiana...See, global warming causing the sealevel to rise by 1000 feet is RACIST. /s
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