Why do most African Americans claim to not be able to swim? (generation, deaths)
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Yea, that opinon you cite isn't much of a debunk. It cites the 42% of white americans being non-swimmers (rounding it up to half...) and admits 70% of black americans are non-swimmers.
It also uses this language "I suspect that the white numbers are slightly inflated based on the fact many that my Caucasian, land-lubbing friends define “swimming” as walking into a pool up to their waist, getting out, then applying more coconut oil."
You don't debunk facts with hopeful opinions. Lets just say its not exactly a peer-reviewed article.....
Economic class probably has more to do with it, as suggested above.
Trying to make this about race doesn't compute. This is a class issue. I am guessing if you look at family incomes and locations of those families you'll find your answer. Seriously, very few statistics actually end up being about race. It is socio-economic class.
This. How do you learn to swim when you have no easy access to a pool or lake?
I learned to swim via swimming lessons. Those aren't usually free.
I just learned recently that a city here in NW Arkansas tore down their city pool to build a huge aquatic center with tax money. They are charging $10 admission. Who can afford that? Not the lower income people. This city has a large, poor Hispanic population, too. Most of them won't be going to the city pool. Their only other option is driving out in the country to swim at the lake. Not the safest place to learn how to swim.
I am not African American but I have a theory on this.
It all depends where you grew up. I grew up in an inner city and never had access to pools, lakes or the like. I never learned how to swim. When we moved to the suburbs when I was 16 I still really didn't have access to a pool.
My kids learned when they were very young when we joined a local swim club, I was in my early forties then and I guess I had no desire to learn. I don't even really like going into water like that, and I really dislike the beach. I am not afraid I just don't like it. I think it's something you need to get accustomed to when you are younger.
Why would one care? I know how to swim and was once a lifeguard.
I guess you must think it's a dumb question but to some people, it's interesting. I would think that it has to do with money. If you grow up in an inner city you usually don't get sent off to summer camp which is where a lot of kids learn to swim and you don't get a family vacation at a lake or at the ocean. You never get the chance to learn. By the time people reach adulthood and have the means to learn, they often have no interest or they are afraid. So they never learn.
That's my guess but lots of cities have public pools and kids could learn there and in that case I don't know whether or not they learn to swim.
Trying to make this about race doesn't compute. This is a class issue. I am guessing if you look at family incomes and locations of those families you'll find your answer. Seriously, very few statistics actually end up being about race. It is socio-economic class.
I disagree with the family income part. Back in the '60's and '70's my parents had four children and only one income (blue-collar - certainly not rich), but they made sure we all took swimming lessons. These were conducted at a local high school for a low fee through a community education program. It just was an important part of growing up for us, and our friends. i am pretty sure most, if not all, of my friends knew how to swim. That was proven once in high school where swimming was a part of physical education class. Believe me, I did not go to an elite high school either. Or an all-white one.
When I raised my son swimming lessons were part of his childhood as well.
The experience the OP shared about being in boot camp is exactly what I experienced. I thought it was weird that people didn't know how to swim in the NAVY! I figured that should be a requirement for enlisting. Anyway, I am very glad and thankful I knew how to swim and had also taken Red Cross survival classes once in high school, which came in handy too.
If anything, I hope this thread teaches parents (of all races) what an important life skill swimming is and to get their children signed up for swimming lessons as soon as they can. I know my grandchildren will be getting them - at the local high school!
P.S. If nothing else teach your children how to float on their backs and tread water. Those two things could save a life.
Trying to make this about race doesn't compute. This is a class issue. I am guessing if you look at family incomes and locations of those families you'll find your answer. Seriously, very few statistics actually end up being about race. It is socio-economic class.
My god, it is not a class or racial (physically speaking). It has to do with culture, the black culture doesn't put as much emphasis on learning to swim as whites. If you give me a white kid and black kid at age 3, I can teach them both to swim. It is literally like walking, running or talking, it is a motor skill that simply requires someone to practice it.
It is like classic "watermelon or chicken" that is typically cited as a "black food" it is cultural adopted by a lot of the black community (because its delicious to me!) as a staple food because its tradition in many black families and something the family puts emphasis on, juxtaposed to swimming in proportions.
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