Comments on: Does it Matter If Blacks Can Swim? http://writingprincess.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/does-it-matter-if-blacks-can-swim/ Informative. Funny. Surreal. Sun, 24 May 2009 02:59:13 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: andre http://writingprincess.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/does-it-matter-if-blacks-can-swim/#comment-16 andre Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:48:13 +0000 http://writingprincess.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/does-it-matter-if-blacks-can-swim/#comment-16 I have swam my entire life competitevely and as recreation. I have lived on 3 continents and yes, I saw blacks expressing interest in swimming, attending swimming lessons and even participating in competitions. I saw blacks learning various swimming techniques. What I have NOT seen is blacks being any good at it or keeping up with the normative even by the simplified US standards that gives blacks way more opportunity to be trained for a competitive team. I am not sure which genetic factor is the problem here, but no matter how much time is spent practicing, blacks are slow and inefficient swimmers and tend to be unable to sufficiently hold breath when compared to asians and europeans. So, let's get it straight, blacks can splash in the pool all they want, but as far as competitive swimming is concerned, blacks CAN'T swim. I have swam my entire life competitevely and as recreation. I have lived on 3 continents and yes, I saw blacks expressing interest in swimming, attending swimming lessons and even participating in competitions. I saw blacks learning various swimming techniques. What I have NOT seen is blacks being any good at it or keeping up with the normative even by the simplified US standards that gives blacks way more opportunity to be trained for a competitive team. I am not sure which genetic factor is the problem here, but no matter how much time is spent practicing, blacks are slow and inefficient swimmers and tend to be unable to sufficiently hold breath when compared to asians and europeans. So, let’s get it straight, blacks can splash in the pool all they want, but as far as competitive swimming is concerned, blacks CAN’T swim.

]]> By: John Cruzat http://writingprincess.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/does-it-matter-if-blacks-can-swim/#comment-14 John Cruzat Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:26:40 +0000 http://writingprincess.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/does-it-matter-if-blacks-can-swim/#comment-14 Wonderful post; this is really an epidemic with a cure. Learning to swim is essentially a life skill, and a protracted legacy of racism, segregation, and fear have essentially "deaquafied" more that just African Americans in this country. The disproportionate death and obesity rates in all communities of color are a testament to that which is why I always caution about making this a "Black" thing although this myth is most popular. USA Swimming is the embodiment of what is good and strong about sports today. We believe in the broader social value of swimming and have a compelling vision to “Make a Splash” in communities across the nation. Together, we can expand the opportunities for people of all ages and all walks of life to experience the health, safety and personal development benefits of competitive swimming, and provide greater opportunities for coming generations and underrepresented populations to benefit from the unique experience of belonging to a USA Swimming team. Make a Splash – Atlanta is one of many new pilot programs across the country created to make the sport of swimming an integral part of the programming offered to young people at six Boys & Girls Club locations in urban Atlanta. As the next section describes, this program is part of a broader vision to use the sport of swimming as a vehicle for helping to reduce disproportionate drowning rates and improve the lives of individuals and to make communities better. Learn to swim today! Wonderful post; this is really an epidemic with a cure. Learning to swim is essentially a life skill, and a protracted legacy of racism, segregation, and fear have essentially “deaquafied” more that just African Americans in this country. The disproportionate death and obesity rates in all communities of color are a testament to that which is why I always caution about making this a “Black” thing although this myth is most popular.

USA Swimming is the embodiment of what is good and strong about sports today. We believe in the broader social value of swimming and have a compelling vision to “Make a Splash” in communities across the nation. Together, we can expand the opportunities for people of all ages and all walks of life to experience the health, safety and personal development benefits of competitive swimming, and provide greater opportunities for coming generations and underrepresented populations to benefit from the unique experience of belonging to a USA Swimming team.

Make a Splash – Atlanta is one of many new pilot programs across the country created to make the sport of swimming an integral part of the programming offered to young people at six Boys & Girls Club locations in urban Atlanta. As the next section describes, this program is part of a broader vision to use the sport of swimming as a vehicle for helping to reduce disproportionate drowning rates and improve the lives of individuals and to make communities better.

Learn to swim today!

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