http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11172054

9/3/2010 9:21:12 AM

mother fuck him and john wayne

9/3/2010 9:25:08 AM

Body densities and other differences aside, it's mainly because their parents couldn't and they don't know how to teach them or don't think it important. Why don't their parents know how? Here's why:

9/3/2010 9:25:31 AM

yes the entire black community doesn't know how to swim because white people never let them use pools

You've got to be fucking kidding me

9/3/2010 9:38:43 AM

I'm sure the local pools, creeks, and lakes allow people of all colors now... no excuse.

9/3/2010 10:33:32 AM

Theories for low black American swimming rates

Propagation of incorrect scientific theories such as black people being much less buoyant

Historic factors going as far back as slaves not being allowed to learn to swim

Denial of access to pools in 1920s and 30s causing ripple effect to present day

Lack of municipal pools in predominantly black neighbourhoods in 1960s onwards

Perception of swimming as elitist or white sport

9/3/2010 11:23:27 AM

From the article


There are historical reasons why black children do not learn to swim

9/3/2010 11:26:46 AM

Quote :

"yes the entire black community doesn't know how to swim because white people never let them use pools You've got to be fucking kidding me"

Quote :

"Historic factors going as far back as slaves not being allowed to learn to swim Denial of access to pools in 1920s and 30s causing ripple effect to present day Lack of municipal pools in predominantly black neighbourhoods in 1960s onwards Perception of swimming as elitist or white sport "

How is any of that so hard to believe? Isn't that the same as so many other things? Education? Income level? You don't think 100s of years of prejudice against black Americans hasn't affected them at all?

Quote :

"Body densities and other differences aside, it's mainly because their parents couldn't and they don't know how to teach them or don't think it important. "

Yes. They don't know how because their parents didn't know how, and maybe their parents weren't allowed in pools. Pretty simple.

I mean you posted that article because it was obvious and common sense right? That it all has roots in prejudice etc?

9/3/2010 11:45:06 AM

I don't think this guy understands "contributing factor"

segregated swimming pools and inadequate (or the the total lack of) municipal swimming pools definitely makes learning to swim fucking challenging, my man

9/3/2010 11:47:16 AM

^i completely agree. Wait which guy doesn't understand contributing factor?

9/3/2010 11:48:10 AM

V0LC0M

9/3/2010 11:50:19 AM

Yeah. Contributing factors are key in this case. There's so many examples of this.

9/3/2010 11:55:51 AM

I learned to swim in daycare, but I distinctly remember teaching myself. Unlike learning to ride a bike, which I don't remember in the slightest, I definitely remember dog-paddling and getting the hang of it. I just sort of splashed around hanging on to the rope that separates the shallow and deep ends. I'm still no good at a freestyle stroke; I prefer breast stroke, but I feel completely comfortable in the water and my ability to take care of myself. However, I'm not confident enough in my abilities that I swim out too far beyond the breakers at the beach.

I'm pretty sure both of my parents can swim, and both my sisters can too. Hell, my baby sister's a life guard.

[Edited on September 3, 2010 at 11:57 AM. Reason : When I have kids, I'm making sure that this is an ability they have]

9/3/2010 11:57:27 AM

my friends a pro-body builder and a certified trainer but he won't get in a pool or near the ocean. I think it's funny.

9/3/2010 12:01:08 PM

My stepdad was a sergeant first class in the army, and he claimed he couldn't swim. It always seemed odd to me. Wouldn't that be a requisite skill for a soldier, even if he's not navy/USMC?

9/3/2010 12:18:27 PM

Yeah you'd think so. I can't imagine not being able to swim. I'm not particularly good at any one stroke. I still need to get my breathing down on freestyle but I'm really comfortable in the water.

I mean isn't doggy paddling like natural? You fall in the water and you just naturally start doing the motions? Plus even if you can't swim can't you just float on your back? I guess some people just get nervous and freak out.

9/3/2010 12:39:10 PM

Quote :

"I mean isn't doggy paddling like natural? You fall in the water and you just naturally start doing the motions? Plus even if you can't swim can't you just float on your back? I guess some people just get nervous and freak out."

I witnessed this first hand this summer. We were at my cousin's pool and one guy with us can't swim and he jumped in an area where he thought he could touch (If he just hopped up and down, he could). He started flailing about violently and wildly, we all thought it was a joke at first but noticed he wasn't stopping or breathing (his faced was turning red). My bro jumped in and just pulled him up the ramp to the shallow end. The guy was exhausted and sat on the pool step for a few minutes afterward.

9/3/2010 12:43:32 PM

maybe it's because of google. When you type in "African American's can't..." it fills in "swim". When you type in "Black people can't..." the 2nd and 3rd choices are swim and float. It's the internet's fault!

9/3/2010 12:56:26 PM

I don't float at all. Even in the ocean. I remember all sorts of water safety spiels about, "If you fall in swiftly moving water, don't try to swim against it. You'll just tire yourself. Float until you get to a place where it slows or you can pull yourself out."

I guess I'ma die.

9/3/2010 3:18:24 PM

i've pretty much always failed at the floating on your back thing, ocean or not; i've been in pools / etc since i was in diapers; it just has more to do with your body's make-up i suppose

9/3/2010 3:54:18 PM

maybe it's just biological

I mean, black people are obviously better at basketball than white people

maybe white people are just better at swimming

9/3/2010 4:02:47 PM

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Pool-Boots-Kids-Who-Might-Change-the-Complexion.html

Quote :

"Pool Boots Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion" Wed, Jul 29, 2009 More than 60 campers from Northeast Philadelphia were turned away from a private swim club and left to wonder if their race was the reason. "I heard this lady, she was like, 'Uh, what are all these black kids doing here?' She's like, 'I'm scared they might do something to my child,'" said camper Dymire Baylor. The Creative Steps Day Camp paid more than $1900 to The Valley Swim Club. The Valley Swim Club is a private club that advertises open membership. But the campers' first visit to the pool suggested otherwise. "When the minority children got in the pool all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool," Horace Gibson, parent of a day camp child, wrote in an email. "The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately." The next day the club told the camp director that the camp's membership was being suspended and their money would be refunded. "I said, 'The parents don't want the refund. They want a place for their children to swim,'" camp director Aetha Wright said. Campers remain unsure why they're no longer welcome. "They just kicked us out. And we were about to go. Had our swim things and everything," said camper Simer Burwell. The explanation they got was either dishearteningly honest or poorly worded. "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club," John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement."

Video:
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Swim_Club_Turns_Kids_Away_Fearing__Change_of_Complexion__Philadelphia.html

9/3/2010 4:19:19 PM

Quote :

""The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately.""

Quote :

"Wed, Jul 29, 2009"

WTF???

9/3/2010 4:33:06 PM

from the OP

Quote :

""African-American women, many of them if they go the beauty shop and get their hair fixed they are not going to swim," "

i LOL'd.

but then i felt bad for lolling.

9/3/2010 4:41:04 PM

Quote :

"He started flailing about violently and wildly, we all thought it was a joke at first but noticed he wasn't stopping or breathing (his faced was turning red)."

From the comments section of the original article, one person mentioned something similar to this that completely baffled me... she said that, while she could understand the concept of doggy paddling, she wasn't able to move her arms and legs while breathing at the same time.

I don't understand this... how do these people run or jog? CAN they run or jog? Do they just run for short distances while holding their breath? Or is it a panic response to deep water that only happens in the water?

Hell, I don't really even know how to swim in any official sense (though doggy paddling came naturally to me the first time I ever got into deep-ish water, so I can at least keep myself afloat and move around for a good while), and I can't float for shit (yes, I've done the calmly laying back thing... it's complete bullshit. I just sink very slowly and then decide to fuck it once I can feel the water reaching my nose)... but I still can't understand not being able to perform the basic multitasking operations needed to breath and move all four limbs at the same time.

9/3/2010 4:56:38 PM

I can't explain it either. That's just what I observed.

9/3/2010 5:00:12 PM

it's the whole FEAR for your LIFE thing that makes people behave irrationally in the water

9/3/2010 5:07:30 PM